Georgia AD Josh Brooks on CFP expansion issues: 'There's always going to be a team that's going to be frustrated'

Georgia has been in the midst of the College Football Playoff discussion for most of the event’s history. Not every single decision has gone their way, though. Mainly in the four-team era, where the Bulldogs were just on the outside looking in after an incredible regular season. The 2023 season may be the best example, missing out due to an SEC Championship loss after going 12-0.

Frustrations may be there in Athens but Georgia AD Josh Brooks is also using it as an example when discussing CFP expansion. He knows somebody is already going to have a gripe about being left out, no matter what the format looks like. Whether 12 or 16 teams are in or automatic qualifiers are handed out compared to at-larges, he believes there will be some kind of outcry.

“We were in the SEC Championship game and one loss, now we’re at five or six, not getting in,” Brooks said via The Paul Finebaum Show at the SEC Spring Meetings. “We’ve lived through what it’s like. So, people can play out models and say ‘What if you’re the 13th team or this?’ We’ve lived through that and we’ve been good stewards and we’ve respected the process.

“No matter what you do, no matter if you’re talking about football, baseball, whatever. There’s always going to be a team that’s going to be frustrated with the process that says ‘We were on the outside looking in.’ Just looking at the baseball selections on Monday, I’m sure there are a couple teams that are disappointed.”

Baseball is the example used by Brooks but basketball may prove his point as well. The bubble is heavily discussed every February and March, focusing on the teams on the cusp of being included or missing out on the NCAA Tournament. Usually, they are high-major teams who have fallen short in important areas.

Brooks says the same will be true with football. No final decision has been made on the College Football Playoff, although 16 seems to be the number. The big debate out there is now about the 4+4+2+2+1 model, or 5 automatic qualifiers and 11 at-large bids are handed out.

Whoever is the last potential at-large will be right there campaigning for their program to be included in the field. For Brooks, he same was true back when the CFP was at four, this past season at 12, and now expanding to 16.