In a recent appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up,” Paul Finebaum responded to Lane Kiffin’s comments about the SEC Championship Game and its impact on teams’ chances of making the College Football Playoff (CFP). Kiffin, who is the head coach of Ole Miss, made waves by suggesting that some SEC teams might rather avoid the championship game altogether due to the risk of losing and damaging their playoff hopes. Finebaum, a respected voice in college football, echoed Kiffin’s sentiments, acknowledging that there is indeed a growing perception among SEC teams that playing in the conference championship can be a double-edged sword when it comes to securing a spot in the four-team playoff.
The heart of Kiffin’s argument—and Finebaum’s agreement—is rooted in the increasingly complex dynamics of the playoff race. In a typical college football season, conference championships are viewed as a key indicator of success, with the winner earning automatic respect from the selection committee. However, in the highly competitive SEC, where teams like Georgia, Alabama, LSU, and others are regularly in contention for both the conference title and a playoff berth, the situation is more nuanced. If a team enters the SEC Championship Game with a 12-0 record and loses, they risk not only missing out on the conference title but also potentially falling out of playoff contention.
Finebaum pointed out that this issue becomes particularly pronounced when teams already have one loss heading into the SEC Championship Game. A second loss, even to a formidable opponent, can make it much harder for that team to secure a playoff spot, especially in a year where the playoff field is crowded with undefeated teams from other power conferences. Teams with two losses, particularly from the SEC, find themselves in a precarious position—while a one-loss conference champion is often viewed favorably by the committee, the same cannot always be said for a two-loss team, regardless of their conference pedigree.
The dilemma that Kiffin and others have highlighted is the inherent risk of playing an additional game in the SEC Championship. While it might seem counterintuitive for teams to want to avoid the chance of winning their conference, the reality is that the SEC Championship often serves as a pressure point that could ultimately hurt a team’s playoff resume. Finebaum pointed out that this is a unique challenge faced by SEC teams because of the strength of the conference and the way the playoff selection committee evaluates teams. In most years, the SEC is so deep that even a team with one or two losses could be seen as one of the best in the country, but losses in the title game often reduce the margin for error.
Furthermore, Finebaum emphasized that this situation might become even more pronounced as the College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams in the coming years. While the 12-team format should theoretically open up more spots for teams to make the playoff, there is still the concern that a second loss in a high-stakes championship game could keep teams from securing one of the final spots. Kiffin’s comments, then, reflect a real anxiety that exists within the SEC about how the championship game can serve as both an opportunity and a potential liability.
There’s also a broader point to consider: Kiffin’s remarks speak to the changing landscape of college football as a whole. With more emphasis on the playoff and less focus on the traditional bowl system, coaches and teams are becoming increasingly strategic about how they approach the end of the season. The risk-reward calculus of a conference championship has changed as playoff spots have become more coveted and harder to secure. In the past, teams would have been thrilled to have the chance to play for a conference title. Now, in an era of playoff ambition, the pressure of that final game can sometimes outweigh the rewards of winning it.
In conclusion, Paul Finebaum’s endorsement of Lane Kiffin’s comments about the SEC Championship Game highlights an important shift in the mindset of college football teams, particularly in the SEC. As teams aim for the College Football Playoff, they are increasingly aware of the risks associated with playing in the conference title game. The ever-increasing importance of playoff berths has led to a reevaluation of the significance of winning a conference championship, with some teams now seeing it as a potential hindrance rather than a boost to their playoff hopes. Whether or not this trend will continue remains to be seen, but it is clear that the landscape of college football is evolving in response to the playoff system.
