Have we learned nothing about groupthink and how momentum attracts additional momentum, to the point it’s just too easy to simply hop aboard and shake your fists?
Try suggesting an ounce of opposing view to the anti-Flock camera and anti-data center crowds. These things gather steam and gather it quickly. In bunches.
Here in our world, it happened this past week with the probable expansion of the College Football Playoff, from 12 to 24 teams, starting next year. The universal response: A bad, greedy move, and one that will ruin the sanctity of a regular season where every Saturday is important.
Whew.
Frankly, it’s hard to argue against any of that. But let’s try.
Begin by considering that what some (most?) call greed, others would label common financial sense. Will there be a market for an extra couple weeks of postseason football? Good Lord, please don’t ponder, that was purely hypothetical.
Nothing wrong with selling the masses what they want, even if they didn’t know they wanted it until it was pushed on them.
As for ruining the regular season, have you been blacked out the past few years?
Expanding the playoffs from four to 12 teams opened them up to the potential of two-loss teams.
Conference realignment — actually, more like the worst plastic surgery of all time — has made your geography textbook obsolete. The transfer portal and NIL “structure” have abolished roster continuity and knee-capped the recruiting industry (no big loss there, I’d say).
But guess what. You keep watching. And keep buying tickets. In droves.
Do you really think last week’s Auburn-Georgia game would’ve been less appealing if the Dawgs knew a loss would just be a yield sign en route to the playoffs? The big games will still be the biggest and most emotional games, regardless of how they further blow up bowl season.
NEW: Bowl games have hit the iceberg — and eight directors meet today to figure out how to survive when the CFP expands to 24 teams in 2027 👀
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 21, 2026
"We don't want to be the band members playing on the deck as the ship sinks."
Details: https://t.co/uxCTuGr41ppic.twitter.com/t9hVYR767i
A little math: The NFL includes 44% of its 32 teams (14) in the postseason. Of the 138 Division I FBS schools, an increase to 24 will increase the percentage to just 17. No, that doesn’t really matter, but I looked it up, did the calculating, and we don’t waste research around here.
Finally, and most importantly, do you really think they can ruin the college football season? Just reflect on all the recent grenades, then tune into the biggest games Saturday and try to find empty seats.
Rank & File
The weekly ranking of Florida’s seven big-league college football programs, based on results versus expectations, current trends and, especially regarding one pick down below, a wink and nod from Mr. Hunch …
1. Miami Hurricanes. (6-0). Last week: (Ranked 1) Beat FSU in OT, 43-35. This week: Pitt at home. FYI: As predicted, Pitt finally slipped into dual-personality mode. The Panthers are two weeks into this latest bout after starting 5-0, and you never know when the reverse snap-back will come. Head Hurricane Mario Cristobal, after that escape last week, was right to start warning of rat poison this week. The pick: ’Canes 26, Panthers 24.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal On Mon. a.m.: Get rid of the rats along with the rat poison ... "We’re Getting Better, Long Way to Go"" - https://t.co/PTgYOQzvj0pic.twitter.com/K9jFXJlPDv
— CaneSport Miami Hurricanes (@CaneSport) October 6, 2025
2. Florida Gators (5-2). Last week: (4) Beat Texas, 27-24. This week: Off. FYI: Who saw a potential QB controversy coming this year? Yeah, yeah, but how many expected one due to positive performances? Next week: Versus Georgia in Atlanta.
3. USF Bulls(5-2). Last week: (3) Beat Kent State, 29-2. This week: Off. FYI: Don’t let the score fool you; that wasn’t a quality win for the Bulls over Kent. Head Bull Brian Hartline dubbed it “difficult to watch,” particularly USF’s inability to run the ball against a previously porous defense. Next week: UAB at home.
4. FAU Owls (4-2). Last week: (2) Lost to Army, 56-24. This week: Rice at home. FYI: How to re-energize the Del Boca Vistans? First, schedule the Rice Owls, who are worse than usual at 1-6. And team up with alumni-run Islamorada Brewery for a $3-2-1 beer night. Drafts are $3 pregame through the first quarter, $2 through halftime, $1 through the third quarter and last call. What could go wrong? The pick: Keggers 34, Owls 18.
Join us this Saturday for our 3-2-1 Beer Deal!
— Florida Atlantic Athletics #WIP🏝️ (@FAUAthletics) October 20, 2026
$3 Pregame – 1st quarter
$2 2nd quarter – halftime
$1 3rd quarter
📰 https://t.co/x0pDwRBOLt#WIP🏝️ pic.twitter.com/APwnKFKavq
5. FSU Seminoles(3-4). Last week: (6) Lost at Miami, 43-35. This week: Off. FYI: One and maybe two bad calls hurt FSU’s chances of pulling off a stunner last week, and Mike Norvell was rightfully upset. His willingness to express his irritation so vividly (“an absolute joke” … “a shame”) suggests someone’s give-a-damn has already been bought out. Next week: Clemson at home.
6. UCF Knights (3-3). Last week: (5) Lost at Oklahoma State, 42-28. This week: BYU at home. FYI: Were you paying attention to the overall landscape last weekend? Do you really think all that mayhem was just a one-off? Also, always respect the letdown, especially for a team that just beat Notre Dame at home. And no, I haven't started tailgating early with the FAU crowd. The pick: Knights 27, Cougars 23.
7. FIU Panthers (3-4). Last week: (7) Lost to Jax State, 27-24. This week: Lost Tuesday night to Middle Tennessee, 26-23. FYI: This might be worse. A week after surrendering an 82-yard drive and losing in the final minute, the Panthers got within a field goal with 6-plus minutes remaining Tuesday night, then saw Middlin’ Tennessee keep the ball for 11 plays and run out the clock. Next week: At Liberty.
Other Picks
Have you checked out one of the newer conspiracy theories? You never have to dig deep to find a good one these days.
Hell, you can unearth ’em with Barbie’s teaspoon.
Still, it’s a doozy, yet somewhat predictable: Major League Baseball’s Players Association conspired to push two “underpaid” teams — the Brewers and Rays — into the World Series to counter owners’ desire for a hard salary cap.
All of this ahead of offseason labor talks everyone thinks will lead to a lockout before the ’27 season. Unfortunately for the Big Conspiracy lobby, such an inside job would be way too complicated and take way too many constituencies, and would therefore be impossible to keep sealed.
It’d almost be easier to to get the press box to agree on what’s for free lunch — Brewers over the Rays but it takes all seven.
The World Series matchup is set!
— MLB (@MLB) October 20, 2026
Either the Brewers or Rays will win their first championship 🏆 pic.twitter.com/8wSOZxUFAC
ELSEWHERE: Indiana by 10 over Michigan; Texas Tech beats Cincy; LSU probably beats Auburn; UCLA big over Michigan State; Tennessee by just 6 over S. Carolina; ’Bama by a TD over Texas A&M; Georgia Tech beats BC; Virginia Tech over Clemson; Ole Miss further ruins the Longhorns’ season; Wisconsin mildly upsets USC; Belichick big over Syracuse; the Utes by 12 over Houston; and in Danville, Kentucky, on the other side of Main Street from the Great American Dollhouse Museum, the visiting Sewanee Tigers fall by 12 to the Colonels of Centre College, whose roll call of alums includes John T. Stuart, the man who first asked Abe Lincoln, “Ever think about studying law?”
BTW: Sewanee was one of the giants of early American football, most famous for winning five road games during a six-day road trip by train in 1899. The victims: Texas, Texas A&M, Tulane, LSU, Ole Miss. And did it with 13 players. True story.
BTW II: The famous (?) Sewanee Tigers cheer: “Rip ’em up! Tear ’em up! Leave ’em in the lurch. Down with the heathen. Up with the Church.”
George Groh
— College Football 24/7 (@CFB247) November 23, 2022
Centre College, Offensive Line 2016-2020 pic.twitter.com/fT8geiiHaT
Email Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Calm down, we'll live through College Football Playoff expansion. Also: Rankings, picks