Paul Finebaum weighs in on Mike Leach's take on Kentucky Derby, CFP

The massive underdog victory by Rich Strike in the 2022 Kentucky Derby on Saturday had everybody in the sports world talking – including Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach. Rich Strike came in with 80-1 odds by post time and won it all. Leach used it as an example to plea for expansion of the College Football Playoff.

“That horse winning the Kentucky Derby today, is a good example of why an expanded college football playoff is needed,” Leach tweeted. “That horse hadn’t won all the races leading up, but it got its chance and that’s what happened.”

Finebaum scoffs at Mike Leach’s Derby/CFP comparison

SEC analyst Paul Finebaum shared his take on Leach’s tweet advocating expansion with Greg McElroy and Cole Cubelic.

“I did not (have similar thoughts), no, most of all I’m glad to know Mike Leach is alive and well,” Finebaum said. “I was amazing and I feel fortunate to have watched the Derby because it wasn’t high on my list of things to do that day… That horse would not have a winning record. It would’ve been someone who finished about 12th in the SEC and wouldn’t be going to a bowl game, that’s how crazy thoroughbred racing is. There’s no correlation whatsoever, Coach Leach, between what happened there with owners able to buy their way into the Derby and Mississippi State, as an example, getting a ticket to the college football playoff.”

Finebaum couldn’t help but take aim at Leach. His Bulldogs are coming off of a 7-6 season that included losses to Memphis and Texas Tech.

“I don’t mean to get on his bad side this early in the morning in Starkville, but I would spend more time trying to make sure his team gets to a bowl game this year than worrying about whether the college football playoff should be open to everyone who has a helmet, a football and a jockstrap.”

CFP expansion might have to wait

The College Football Playoff was introduced during the 2014-2015 season. Since then, there have been a lot of familiar faces in the playoff. Alabama has been in the playoff in seven of the eight seasons since its introduction. Bama also has three championship victories in the playoff era with three more appearances in the title game. Ohio State won the initial College Football Playoff in 2015. Clemson also has two championships and one loss in the title game. LSU and Georgia each have one victory in the playoff era, as well.

After a lot of debate after the conclusion of last season, CFP expansion was essentially put on the backburner. A big move does not appear to be imminent.

Expanding to an eight-team or 12-team playoff is what many want to see, but it hasn’t happened yet. When playoff expansion was voted against earlier this year, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey had a strong reaction.

“For all the clamor about wanting to think about student athletes, there are a 1,000 students athletes each year on eight teams who could have participated in the playoff,” Sankey said. “On the other hand, we (the SEC), didn’t need more teams.”