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Missouri

Eli Drinkwitz calls out College Football Playoff over selection committee's process: 'We have beauty pageants instead of football games'

Untitled design (2)by: Sam Gillenwater9 hours agosamdg_33
Missouri HC Eli Drinkwitz
Denny Medley | Imagn Images

Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz has been campaigning for a better College Football Playoff system as recently as this offseason. He did so again when he got his chance on ‘Wake Up Barstool’ on Thursday morning.

Drinkwitz was asked in his appearance this morning about conferences and programs publicly making their playoff cases as early as possible during the season. He responded by saying that’s what they have to do, considering the selection process that their sport has for the College Football Playoff.

“You want to know why? Because college football has decided that, instead of allowing, you know, some sort of actual competition on the field to be involved, we decided, as Mike Leach completely and accurately described? We allowed a committee to decide – a committee of people, which always produces great results,” Drinkwitz said with sarcasm. “As we can now sense, you know, throughout the government, committees are effective ways to make decisions. So, we have beauty pageants instead of football games.”

Again, this is a case that Drinkwitz has been making since back in July. While at SEC Media Days in Atlanta, Drinkwtiz pitched as much as a 30-team field for the CFP. That idea stemmed from the playoff system in the NFL, which Drinkwitz sees as far more objective based on team record, as well as accessible based on how many teams get a chance each postseason to play for a Super Bowl.

“I talked about it at SEC Media Days. I still believe in this. We’ve got to get back to figuring out who the best teams are on the field,” Drinkwitz said. “I believe each conference should have play-in games and let those games decide who ultimately makes the playoff. I think that’s the best way to do it.

“You know, the NFL is the most accurate model that we should all follow in professionalized sports. They play divisions. They play each other twice. You know that that’s the best team in that division. There’s no doubt about it. And then, you know, those teams make the playoffs. You have 14 out of 32 teams that make the playoffs. That’s roughly 44%. We’re talking about less than 10% in college football. You know, we’re asking fans for millions and millions of dollars to pay for players and stadiums. That’s not sustainable if they don’t see hope in their investment.”

Take Missouri, for example. The Tigers have been 10-2 in 2023 and 9-3 in 2024, yet finished 9th and 19th, respectively, in the final rankings for the CFP in those seasons. For reference, the first was for the four-team version and the second was for the debut of the 12-team field.

Teams like Missouri are under consideration, but without an undefeated or one-loss record, much more comes into play when debating who’s in and who’s out, such as strength of schedule. That could now come into play for Drinkwitz again this season. No. 19 Mizzou is 5-0 so far this fall, going into its first bye.

Changes are constantly coming to the playoff format, with the total number of berths as well as the seeding system of that field changing in each of the past two offseasons. Still, when it likely changes again, Drinkwitz is hoping for a more just, attainable way, with more results on the field and less voting behind closed doors, for programs to be in the CFP.