I would add, this was an ESPN wet dream. They likely maximized revenue by having an SEC team at both ends of the Championship bracket.
I expect ESPN will be shilling for SEC teams again in next pre-season’s rankings to give themselves a better chance at success of cajoling the Bowl committee to have at least two SEC teams in the running again. Particularly since it is nearly impossible to be considered in the National conversation if you do not begin in the top ten in preseason polls.
Follow the money trail between the SEC and ESPN. ESPN just made up for lost revenue due to its obvious liberal views regarding the NFL, Trump, etc.
Did not watch the ESPN bowl. Will not until college football champions continue to be subject to popularity contests with broadcast contracts weighing heavily on who participates, unlike how it is in NCAA basketball.
I have never liked polls/rankings/consensus in sports. If they were worth anything, the USSR should have been given the 1980 Ice Hokey Gold Medal, the Patriots should have been given the Lombardi trophy in 2011, and the 1969 Orioles given the Commissioner’s trophy. Oh, and if you consider politics a sport, Hillary should have been sworn in as President without an election. Sports is about competition, not polls, rankings or consensus. So, since NCAA football does not lend itself for true competition among legitimate contenders for the National Championship then there is no true college football national champion.
Regards.
“the Patriots should have been given the Lombardi trophy in 2007,” NOT 2011
ESPN assumed Oklahoma would handle Georgia with no problems. The game they wanted was Oklahoma versus Alabama. The CFP committee was horrified that Georgia won that game.