College Football Playoff first round sees familiar blowouts as format faces scrutiny

The recent College Football Playoff (CFP) first-round games saw significant blowouts, with many questioning the competitiveness of the matchups. Historically, 21 of 30 CFP games have been decided by two or more scores, indicating that blowouts are not new to the format. The current CFP structure has been affected by conference realignment, leading to an uneven playing field. The shift from five power conferences to four has complicated the selection process, resulting in mismatched matchups and potential changes to the playoff format in the future. Looking ahead, there is speculation about moving quarterfinal games to campus sites, but this may take time due to existing contracts. Meanwhile, the transfer portal is reshaping team dynamics, allowing non-traditional programs to gain prominence in college football.