Part 2/8:
At the core of the critic's argument is the assertion that not all 12 teams participating in the playoffs are deserving contenders for the national championship. Over the inaugural weekend of the expanded playoff, several games highlighted just how uncompetitive this new format can be. Teams like Indiana, SMU, and Tennessee were widely recognized as lacking the stature of true contenders, resulting in what many spectators deemed to be blowout performances.