The new, 12-team College Football Playoff emerges as a significant development in the world of college football. It brings with it the promise of being bigger, more exciting, and more lucrative. But is it perfect or 100% fair? Well, that's a question that remains unanswered.

Unraveling the Complexities of the Expanded College Football Playoff

Alabama's Omission in the Bracket's Biggest Debate

The SEC's Alabama, a powerhouse in college football, found itself on the sidelines in the inaugural 12-team playoff. While the Crimson Tide had three losses, the ACC's SMU, with only two losses and an impressive comeback against Clemson, was favored. "We were on pins and needles," said SMU coach Rhett Lashley. "Until we saw the name 'SMU' up there, we were hanging on the edge. We're really, really happy and thankful to the committee for rewarding our guys for their total body of work." Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, the chairman of the selection committee, explained, "We just felt, in this particular case, SMU had the nod above Alabama. But it's no disrespect to Alabama's strength of schedule. We looked at the entire body of work for both teams."This decision sparked a lot of discussion and debate among college football fans. Alabama's absence from the playoff was a significant moment that raised questions about the fairness and meritocracy of the selection process.

The Distribution of Teams and Conferences

The Big Ten leads the way with four teams in the tournament, followed by the SEC with three and the ACC with two. This distribution shows the dominance of certain conferences in the playoff. Georgia, the SEC champion, was seeded second, while Boise State, the Mountain West champion, earned the third seed, and Big 12 titlist Arizona State got the fourth seed and the fourth and final first-round bye. All these teams will play in quarterfinals at bowl games on Dec. 31-Jan. 1.The conference commissioners' idea to give conference champions preferable treatment in this first iteration of the 12-team playoff could be up for reconsideration after this season. The committee's rankings and seeding decisions have a significant impact on the teams' paths to the championship.

The Impact of Unusual Bids and Byes

Clemson's crazy win over SMU gave them the 12th seed and stole a bid from Alabama. This result was a game-changer and ultimately cost Alabama a spot in the field. The Tigers moved to No. 16 in the rankings but got in as the fifth-best conference winner. Another CFP guideline is that there's no reseeding of teams after each round, which means no break for Oregon. The top-seeded Ducks will face the winner of Tennessee-Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Oregon beat Ohio State earlier this year in one of the season's best games.The automatic byes and bids made the bracket strange. For example, Boise State, the Mountain West Champion, was ranked No. 9 but got a first-round bye. This shows the complexity and unpredictability of the playoff system.

The Matchups and Surprises

No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas on Dec. 21. Clemson is riding high after the SMU upset, while Texas is 0-2 against Georgia and 11-0 vs. everyone else this season. The winner faces Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. It's a strange matchup that has fans wondering about the fairness of the seeding.No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State on Dec. 21. The biggest knock against the Mustangs was their relatively weak schedule. But now they get a chance to prove themselves against a stronger opponent. The winner faces Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. This matchup was expected and will be a test for both teams.No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame on Dec. 20. Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti thought his team deserved a home game. While they didn't get it, they still have a chance to face Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs got the No. 2 seed despite a throwing-arm injury to QB Carson Beck.No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State on Dec. 21. The Buckeyes (losses to Oregon, Michigan) got home field over the Volunteers (losses to Arkansas, Georgia) in a matchup of programs with two of the biggest stadiums in football. The winner faces Oregon in the Rose Bowl. This feels like a matchup that should come in the semifinals or later.All these matchups add to the excitement and drama of the 12-team College Football Playoff. Fans will be eagerly watching as the teams battle it out on the field to determine the champion.