Are G5 Teams HURTING The College Football Playoffs? | HARD PASS Ep. 76

Are G5 Teams HURTING The College Football Playoffs? | HARD PASS Ep. #76

The College Football Playoff has a Group of Five problem … and the fix is actually pretty SIMPLE 👀

Doug Kezirian breaks down why the CFP’s automatic bid for Group of Five teams no longer makes sense in today’s college football landscape, why the sport has changed, and why the very rule designed to promote fairness is now creating bigger problems than it solves.

The expanded playoff was meant to be inclusive and efficient, but Doug explains how talent disparity, NIL, and the transfer portal have made true Cinderella runs virtually impossible. Instead, automatic bids are now blocking legitimate national title contenders while sending overmatched teams into the playoff with no realistic chance to win four games.

Is it time to eliminate Group of Five auto-bids and let the committee do its job? Drop your take in the comments and don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Hard Pass 💯

“An actual contender like Notre Dame is left out … left out of a playoff format that was specifically designed to be inclusive and efficient, deciding a champion on the field.” — Doug Kezirian

#collegefootball #cfp #cfprankings #cfb #groupoffive #jamesmadison #tulane #collegefootballplayoff #notredame #ncaafootball #footballtalk #sportsdebate

HARD PASS Ep. #76

On Today’s Episode:

00:00 - Intro

00:18 - Huddle Up

🏈 Doug explains why the Group of Five auto-bid is outdated, how the sport has changed, and why the CFP’s attempt at inclusivity has backfired.

01:10 - The TWO Big Problems With the G5 Auto-Bid

🏈 Doug explains how NIL has reshaped the sport by draining G5 talent, and why the expanded playoff format makes true Cinderella runs nearly impossible.

02:58 - How This Is Hurting Actual Contenders

🏈 Doug explains why automatic bids are now blocking real title contenders and doing more harm than good for both the playoff and Group of Five conferences.

05:02 - Why G5 Teams Have an EASIER Path to the CFP

🏈 Doug breaks down how weaker schedules, fewer elite opponents, and simpler paths to conference titles give G5 teams a clearer route than Power Conference schools battling week-to-week.

#SportsDebate #SportsPodcast #FootballTalk #SportsCommunity #ESPN #CFP #CollegeFootball

Welcome to HARD PASS with veteran sports analyst Doug Kezirian, your stadium seat to everything football, and your courtside ticket to everything basketball! From buzzer-beaters to behind-the-scenes drama, scorching hot takes, and sharp analysis you won’t hear anywhere else. Brought to you by the Doug Kezirian Sports Network (DKSN).

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