The College Football Playoff: A Comprehensive Guide

What is the College Football Playoff?

The College Football Playoff (CFP) is a four-team, single-elimination tournament that determines the national champion of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in the United States. It was created in 2014 to replace the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), which had been used to determine the national champion since 1998.

How does the CFP work?

The CFP is a four-team, single-elimination tournament. The four teams that compete in the CFP are selected by a 13-member committee. The committee uses a variety of factors to select the teams, including team record, strength of schedule, and head-to-head results.

The four teams that compete in the CFP are divided into two semifinals. The winners of the semifinals advance to the championship game. The championship game is played at a neutral site.

Who has won the CFP?

Since the CFP was created in 2014, there have been eight different winners. The winners are:

• 2014: Ohio State
• 2015: Alabama
• 2016: Clemson
• 2017: Alabama
• 2018: Clemson
• 2019: LSU
• 2020: Alabama
• 2021: Georgia

What are the benefits of the CFP?

The CFP has a number of benefits over the previous system, the BCS. The CFP is more transparent, as the selection committee is required to release its rankings each week. The CFP is also more fair, as it gives all teams an equal chance to compete for the national championship. Additionally, the CFP has generated more revenue than the BCS, which has helped to improve the financial health of college football.

What are the criticisms of the CFP?

The CFP has also been criticized for a number of reasons. One criticism is that the CFP is too small, and that it should be expanded to include more teams. Another criticism is that the CFP selection committee is biased, and that it does not always select the best teams. Additionally, the CFP has been criticized for being too focused on revenue, and for not always putting the best interests of student-athletes first.

Conclusion

The College Football Playoff is a four-team, single-elimination tournament that determines the national champion of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in the United States. The CFP was created in 2014 to replace the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), which had been used to determine the national champion since 1998. The CFP has a number of benefits over the previous system, but it has also been criticized for a number of reasons.