Criticism around ESPN’s role in CFP process seems more public than ever

The notion that ESPN has a pro-SEC agenda when it comes to the College Football Playoff is one of those things that you can’t prove, and those involved will (and do) deny it, but just kinda feels true to a lot of people.

Whether it’s Desmond Howard deeming a notable Big 12 game beneath College GameDay’s attention, Kirk Herbstreit pushing to keep an undefeated ACC school out of the CFP in favor of an SEC school, or Paul Finebaum doing Paul Finebaum things, the anecdotal evidence always seems to pile up. To say nothing of the fact that ESPN has $3 billion reasons to want to see the SEC thrive (and the ratings to back that logic up).

There used to be a lot more tap-dancing around ESPN’s involvement in the state of college football. However, as the power conferences consolidate, the media rights coalesce, the CFP expands, and some of ESPN’s college football pundits have already started arguing in favor of three-loss SEC teams over 1-loss schools from other conferences, people are flatly calling ESPN out, rightly or wrongly, over their role in the state of things.

Oregon currently sits atop the rankings as the lone undefeated team in the nation. While the Ducks are seemingly sitting pretty in the Big Ten, one win away from clinching the conference championship in their first season there, head coach Dan Lanning understands that the bar is higher for schools like his than SEC schools, or so it seems.

ESPN’s contract is with the SEC.

Dan Lanning: “That’s how it works. Let’s not pretend it doesn’t work different than that.”

Also, a message for three-loss teams whining and complaining: “They can’t deny you if you just win… If you lose three games, shame on you.”

Watch: pic.twitter.com/GQGHu0ZGdM

— John Canzano (@johncanzanobft) December 6, 2024

“Well they pay the bills, right? Doesn’t the SEC pay the bills? “Lanning asked John Canzano in response to him saying ESPN talks up the SEC over all other conferences. “I mean, who’s their contract with?… That’s how it works. Let’s not pretend it doesn’t work different than that.”

Lanning did have a response to coaches of teams with multiple losses attempting to make their case for why they deserve to be in the CFP (See: Kiffin, Lane).

“Just win. Just win. They can’t deny you if you just win. You can’t complain if just win. You know, if you lose three games, shame on you. If you lose two, shame on you. Win.”

Meanwhile, former Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby took a lot of grief during his ensure over that conference’s standing in the grand scheme of things. This season was an uphill battle and the conference is likely looking at getting just one team into the CFP (the SEC and Big 10 are currently projected to get four each).

Speaking with Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger, Bowlsby lobbed a suggestion for how to make the CFP projections and field a bit fairer overall but immediately noted that ESPN would almost certainly balk at the idea.

“My personal opinion is we come out with the rankings too early,” said Bowlsby. “Doing it every week is hard on the chair and the committee. Two polls, one midseason and one at the end, would be better. But ESPN would flip out.”

It’s a valid point. Just thinking about the amount of content ESPN would lose if they stopped doing weekly polls and rankings means it’s a non-starter.

The issues surrounding fairness in college football go far beyond ESPN’s influence. One could even argue lack of fairness is baked into the DNA of the sport from the beginning. But as the company has tightened its grip on the sport, how it’s broadcast, and who gets selected to play for a championship, the Worldwide Leader will continue to be a lightning rod for this kind of criticism, fairly or not.

[John Canzano, Yahoo]