The first round of the expanded College Football Playoff failed to deliver the thrilling matchups many hoped for, with all four games ending in blowouts and an average point differential of 19.25. As debates erupted over the decisions of the selection committee, questions lingered about whether the right teams earned at-large bids. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum did not hold back, labeling a pair of weekend losers — Indiana and SMU — as undeserving, while also giving Tennessee a pass despite suffering a lopsided defeat of its own in the opening round.
«Obviously helped to be at home, but it would have been a lot better if we had some real teams playing in the playoffs as opposed to a couple of frauds,» Finebaum said Sunday on The Matt Barrie Show. «That’s the disappointing part, and I know it sounds a little bit like crying over spilled milk, but the (selection) committee did a lousy job.
We as college football fans paid for it Friday night and all day Saturday. And I know the worst loss was Tennessee, but Tennessee did something to get into the playoff. Indiana did nothing. SMU did nothing and that’s really what my biggest beef is.»
Indiana actually had the smallest margin of defeat among the four first-round playoff games at on-campus stadiums, falling to Notre Dame 27-17 Friday night after scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns. SMU never had a chance at Penn State in a 38-10 loss. Meanwhile, Tennessee got thumped at Ohio State 42-17 in what many anticipated to be the most competitive matchup of the weekend.
Texas beat Clemson 38-24 in the Saturday afternoon slate.
The jeers directed at the selection committee grew louder after each of the first three games with Indiana and SMU — the last two at-large bids in the expanded 12-team field — falling flat on the big stage. The Mustangs trailed 28-0 at halftime with quarterback Kevin Jennings throwing three interceptions, including a pair of pick-6s.
SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee was adamant postgame that his team belonged on the stage despite the outcome.
«We didn’t play very good today, but this team is a quality team,» Lashlee said. «We were a good team, we earned the right to be here. Just disappointed we didn’t play to the level that validates that.»
Indiana trailed by as many as 24 points to Notre Dame before two late touchdowns made the final score look more respectable. At one point, with the Hoosiers down 20-3 and 10:34 remaining in the fourth quarter, they chose to punt from just across midfield. The Fighting Irish then capitalized on the ensuing drive, scoring a touchdown to extend their lead before Indiana finally found the end zone.
«You never get everything you want in life. That’s how life is,» Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said postgame, via Peegs.com. «But it doesn’t diminish what these guys accomplished, for sure this season which everyone in this room can detail out what this team’s accomplished. A lot of firsts. So proud of them. It’s easy to say we didn’t play our best game, but a lot of that was probably because of who we played.»
The quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff continue New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.