Oklahoma, Oklahoma coach Brent Venables, sec, college football, ncaaf, college football playoff, college football playoff format

The uncomfortable truth about College Football Playoff expansion that for all the hand-wringing over automatic bids, guaranteed access and conference politics, the path to the postseason remains remarkably simple: win your football games.

That’s a part coaches don’t want to hear often and Oklahoma’s Brent Venables knows it.

The game is marching into a future where more conferences are pushing for guaranteed entry and protected spots, hoping to eliminate some of the uncertainty that comes with a selection committee room full of ideas. On the surface, it’s understandable. No one wants a 10-2 season to be reduced to a showdown in December.

But even with expansion, eligible players and extra cap space, the teams that always make the playoff conversation are the ones that run the business on Saturdays.

“If you want total control, win your games,” Venables said this week at the SEC Meetings. “It worked for us in November, when we had a really challenging last four games, and we took care of business. And that was ultimately the difference for us to be able to get into the playoffs, where if we hadn’t done that, if we hadn’t gone 4-0, we probably shouldn’t have gotten in. I’m ready for that.”

Last season, the Sooners ranked No. 12 in CFP’s preliminary rankings at 7-2 overall and you knew that the margin of error in all of their last three games was zero for consideration. Oklahoma then beat fourth-ranked Alabama, No. 22 Missouri and LSU to close it out before getting a first-round home game.

The CFP selection committee is flawed. Every program does. People are involved, which means interpretation, bias and disagreement will always exist. One season, strength of schedule is very important. Next, head-to-head results become the defining factor. Many complain because there is no perfect formula.

Yet the teams left in contention on Selection Sunday are often the ones that point to missing a September upset, a missed opportunity against a ranked opponent or a late-season collapse that has cost them control of their future.

The truth is that reaching the playoffs has never been more attainable than now. More areas mean more room for error. Multiple spots mean that a second loss isn’t as fatal as it used to be. Many spots mean teams outside of the traditional power structure finally have legitimate paths to the bracket.

What does not guarantee growth is not disappointment.

“Don’t be on the wrong side of this one game,” Venables said. “That’s what I’m going to say, don’t leave it to the officials to make a decision about this game, don’t leave it to someone else to win your games. You can’t sit down and pee and cry and complain if you get the chance to do it on the field.

“So, maybe it’s easy – and again, I have, you’re talking about someone who has compassion and empathy for people who are on the wrong side of it and they had a really good year, and for whatever reason, they didn’t get voted into (it). I see it both ways.”

Venables pointed out that Vanderbilt won by 10 points last season, and Texas coach Steve Sarkisian guaranteed a win. his own three-loss Longhorns deserved a bid primarily due to scheduling constraints.

No plan is perfect. A Big Ten rival can’t expect to be treated well after losing the most important games. And the Group of Five champions have yet to prove they deserve inclusion by piling up wins.

That’s why Venables presented a dark truth about college football that is so obvious but often overlooked. Although regulators and commissioners are discussing debate formats and access, the solution for many programs remains the same. Stop worrying about the committee. Stop worrying about the number of bids your conference receives. Win enough games and nothing matters.

The playoff game may be growing. Maybe politics is changing. But the oldest truth in college football remains unbeaten: take care of your Saturdays, and others usually take care of themselves.

Expansion is inevitable

The Big Ten and ACC now have the Big 12 joining the cause behind their coaches unanimously supported the 24-team format this week and said they would consider adding a 10-conference game every year to keep the schedules tight. Many SEC coaches have publicly indicated that they are fine with the expanded bracket, despite league commissioner Greg Sankey. pumping the brakes on an imminent move.

Playoff expansion sounds less like a possibility and more like an event. With so many voices showing support for the big brackets, it’s a matter of when – not if – says Venables, even if the current system works.

“It won’t always be the same,” Venables said. “At some point in time, it’s going to change. I don’t know when that will be, but we’re 12 now. I’m 12. I was four years old, and I loved the BCS model. You know, one thing I loved about the BCS model is when you have two teams, all of a sudden, they’re chosen from that — the bowl with the best bowls, the bowler bowl was a neat thing. There’s a lot of storage.

The argument for expansion is simple – more teams create more perceived reach, more meaningful games last season and, perhaps most importantly, more revenue. Conference commissioners are not in the business of limiting opportunities for their members. They are trying to secure more postseason opportunities, especially in an era where league power and television value are combined.

Expansion also works as insurance. The bigger the field, the less likely the conference titans will be left out after a controversial selection process. That’s what point-of-sale managers can bring back to presidents, sports directors and television partners alike.

Resistance to accommodation is understandable. Critics worry that the regular season is losing value. Some believe that the larger bracket rewards teams that did not receive championship consideration. That concern is unlikely to stop an expanded train.

College football’s power brokers have spent the past decade proving that more content, more television windows and more access to the postseason usually pays off. With public support growing among key players and few financial reasons to stand firm, the sport seems headed for another growth cycle.

Details will be discussed. The number of parties will be negotiated. But the direction of the game seems clear. The college football postseason is quickly approaching.

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