Did the CFP committee get the playoff bracket right? Well, that depends on your perspective and your rooting interests. The bubble became awfully crowded, so not everyone was going to come away happy.

Overall, Alabama and Miami seem like fair choices, but the course the committee charted to reach that destination became an exercise of the absurd.

On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams offer their biggest grievances with this bracket – and with this committee – and propose a different way to approach the playoff.

Is this season cause for playoff expansion? Not necessarily. There’s an argument for 16 teams, but there’s also a case for staying at 12 and dumping automatic bids in favor of a bracket filled exclusively through at-large bids. Let’s reconsider who gets to be on the CFP committee.

Also in this episode, the hosts discuss potential playoff upsets, and they predict the national champion.

Did the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/12/09/cfp-bracket-committee-predictions-notre-dame-alabama-byu-miami/87664328007/" aria-label="Link CFP committee">CFP committee</a> get the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/12/08/cfp-decision-to-go-miami-for-notre-dame-is-just-process-was-flawed-college-football-playoff/87673554007/" aria-label="Link playoff bracket right">playoff bracket right</a>? Well, that depends on your perspective and your rooting interests. The bubble became awfully crowded, so not everyone was going to come away happy.
Overall, Alabama and Miami seem like fair choices, but the course the committee charted to reach that destination became an exercise of the absurd.
On today&rsquo;s episode, hosts <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/staff/2648210001/blake-toppmeyer/" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/staff/2647548001/john-adams/" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> offer their biggest grievances with this bracket &ndash; and with this committee &ndash; and propose a different way to approach the playoff.
Is this season cause for playoff expansion? Not necessarily. There&rsquo;s an argument for 16 teams, but there&rsquo;s also a case for staying at 12 and dumping automatic bids in favor of a bracket filled exclusively through at-large bids. Let&rsquo;s reconsider who gets to be on the CFP committee.
Also in this episode, the hosts discuss <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/12/08/cfp-bracket-predictions-picks-ohio-state-indiana-miami-committee/87663052007/" aria-label="Link potential playoff upsets">potential playoff upsets</a>, and they predict the national champion.

SEC Football Unfiltered features hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams of the USA TODAY Network serving opinion, debate and analysis on trending college football topics within the Southeastern Conference. No subject is off limits, and no one is above rebuke. Take off the filter and revel in the banter.

SEC Football Unfiltered features hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams of the USA TODAY Network serving opinion, debate and analysis on trending college football topics within the Southeastern Conference. No subject is off limits, and no one is above rebuke. Take off the filter and revel in the banter.

SEC Football Unfiltered

Did the CFP committee get the playoff bracket right? Well, that depends on your perspective and your rooting interests. The bubble became awfully crowded, so not everyone was going to come away happy. Overall, Alabama and Miami seem like fair choices, but the course the committee charted to reach that destination became an exercise of the absurd. On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams offer their biggest grievances with this bracket – and with this committee – and propose a different way to approach the playoff. Is this season cause for playoff expansion? Not necessarily. There’s an argument for 16 teams, but there’s also a case for staying at 12 and dumping automatic bids in favor of a bracket filled exclusively through at-large bids. Let’s reconsider who gets to be on the CFP committee. Also in this episode, the hosts discuss potential playoff upsets, and they predict the national champion.

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