The College Football Playoff Committee’s recent decision to expand the postseason to 12 teams has stirred a lot of debate. Notably, Dave Portnoy from Barstool Sports expressed strong disapproval, criticizing the committee members as “dishonest morons” and suggesting the use of the AP Top 25 poll to determine playoff spots instead.
Portnoy argued that it would make more sense to select the top 12 teams based on this poll, claiming it could help avoid some of the ongoing controversies. He shared his thoughts on X, saying, “This is a crazy idea. Get rid of a committee full of dishonest idiots and just get the top 12 in the Associated Press poll. It would probably solve a lot of problems.”
One of the most contentious issues this season revolves around Notre Dame being left out, despite their strong performance, while Alabama, who faced losses to Oklahoma and Georgia, moved on. Portnoy didn’t hold back in criticizing this decision in another post, noting how Alabama’s inclusion seems rigged. He remarked, “That’s when I learned that ESPN and the SEC were rigging it for Bama no matter what,” referencing a comment about Alabama’s difficulties against a struggling Auburn team.
2025 College Football Playoff Opening Day:
Round 1
- Dec. 19, 8 p.m. ET, No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Oklahoma
- Dec. 20, 12:00 p.m. ET, No. 10 Miami vs. No. 7 Texas A&M
- Dec. 20, 3:30 p.m. ET, No. 11 Tulane vs. No. 6 Ole Miss
- No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Quarterfinals
- No. 10 Miami/No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 2 Ohio State, Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET
- No. 12 James Madison/No. 5 Oregon State vs. No. 4 Texas Tech, Jan. 1, 12:00 p.m. ET
- No. 9 Alabama/No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Indiana, Jan. 1, 4 p.m. ET
- No. 11 Tulane/No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 3 Georgia, Jan. 1, 8 p.m. ET
The outcry from fans and analysts alike suggests that many share Portnoy’s frustration over the committee’s choices. Even ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, who had his own successful football career, weighed in, stating that “Notre Dame should have been in over Alabama.”
The playoffs are set to kick off on December 19, starting with Alabama against Oklahoma.
