Controversial Picks Mark Selection Sunday
It’s hard to imagine “Selection Sunday” without a few heated discussions. After ESPN revealed the 2025 College Football Playoff Bracket on Sunday afternoon, many soccer fans voiced their skepticism about how Tulane and James Madison managed to secure spots in the 12-team playoff alongside powerhouse teams like Notre Dame and BYU.
Fans, analysts, and media figures, including Skip Bayless, took to social media to criticize the selection committee for what they called a “ridiculous” choice, placing Tulane and JMU ahead of what they believe are the “best 12 teams in America.”
It’s ridiculous that JMU and Tulane are in the College Football Playoff…and Notre Dame and Texas and Vanderbilt are not. This does not mean that everyone has a chance. This is about the best 12 teams in America. Come.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) December 7, 2025
While the inclusion of Group of Five teams sparks much debate, it’s often an easier decision for the committee than one might think. In this case, they simply followed existing criteria.
According to the College Football Playoff Website, the format calls for five conference champions ranked highest by the selection committee, along with the top seven remaining teams.
In the American Conference title game, Tulane triumphed over North Texas, finishing the season with an 11-2 record and a No. 17 national ranking.
On the other hand, JMU also claimed a title, defeating Troy to win the Sun Belt championship and achieving a No. 19 rank.
Duke University’s unexpected victory over No. 17 Virginia in the ACC Championship was another twist. This upset not only eliminated Virginia from playoff contention but also allowed JMU to grab a playoff spot.
Interestingly, despite their lower rankings compared to No. 12 BYU and No. 9 Notre Dame, Tulane and JMU received automatic bids as top-five conference champions, alongside Indiana, Georgia, and Texas Tech.
One of the more perplexing decisions by the committee was to overlook Alabama’s poor performance in the SEC title game, while they did not extend the same consideration to BYU when deciding playoff slots. BYU’s loss resulted in them being overtaken in the rankings, leading to another layer of controversy.
Committee Chairman Hunter Yurachek defended these contentious selections during ESPN’s Selection Show with host Rece Davis.
In the playoff matchups, No. 12 seed JMU is set to face No. 5 Oregon State on December 20, while No. 11 seed Tulane will go against No. 6 Ole Miss in Oxford.
