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The first season of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff delivered plenty of drama, but not everyone was satisfied with how the system played out. Even the head coach who lifted the championship trophy had strong opinions on the process.
After leading Ohio State to its first national title under the new format, Ryan Day didn't hesitate to criticize a key aspect of the system: the way byes were awarded. While celebrating his team's victory, Day made it clear that one major rule gave certain teams an unfair advantage.
According to Day, the automatic byes granted to the top four conference champions didn't reflect the actual strength of the teams. Instead, he believes those coveted spots should go to the top four teams as ranked by the College Football Playoff committee. "I understand rewarding conference champions, but a bye? That's a little much," Day said. "I think they need to rethink that."
His frustration wasn't just theoretical-it had real consequences for Ohio State's path. Despite finishing as the sixth-ranked team in the final CFP rankings, the Buckeyes were forced into the first round, while teams ranked lower benefited from the current system. Instead of getting a week to rest and prepare, Ohio State had to take on Tennessee in a tough opening matchup. While they silenced doubters with a dominant win, the road only got harder.
Their quarterfinal opponent? Oregon, the No. 1 overall seed and the Big Ten champions. A brutal draw, considering Oregon was ranked lower than Ohio State in the committee's rankings. Meanwhile, teams like Boise State and Arizona State, which were less highly regarded, received byes.
Ohio St had a difficult road to the final
Had the format Day proposed been in place, Ohio State's journey might have looked very different. The Buckeyes could have started with a home game against Arizona State before advancing to a more favorable quarterfinal matchup. Instead, their championship run required them to defeat four powerhouse programs: Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame.
Ultimately, Ohio State prevailed, but Day believes the system still needs fixing. With the playoff format set to undergo further review, his concerns could spark serious discussions ahead of next season. The question now is whether the committee will listen-or if another team will face the same uphill battle.