College football will have a 12-team playoff bracket in less than a week. Among those teams that are a virtual lock to earn a College Football Playoff bid are the Oregon Ducks, the lone undefeated team left in the FBS. However, a loss in the Big Ten title game against Penn State would squash their hopes of a top-four seed, forcing them to play in the first round and likely have the program on edge heading into Selection Sunday. Lanning spoke to the media on Friday, claiming the easiest way to avoid the CFP bubble is to win.
Yet, Lanning also touched up on the CFP committee’s selection process, questioning an SEC bias based on the conference paying the bills for ESPN, the top network for FBS football. Nevertheless, football fans sided with Lanning, believing the CFP committee and ESPN have a Southeastern Conference bias, especially with three-loss Alabama sitting ahead of two-loss Miami in the latest rankings.
College Football Fans Side with Dan Lanning
According to John Canzano of Fox Sports Euguene:
ESPN’s contract is with the SEC.
Dan Lanning: “That’s how it works. Let’s not pretend it doesn’t work different than that.”
Also, a message for three-loss teams whining and complaining: “They can’t deny you if you just win… If you lose three games, shame on you.”
When pressed, Oregon Ducks head coach Lanning spoke about the College Football Playoff committee’s decision-making. “They pay the bills, right? Doesn’t the SEC pay the bills? Who is their contract with? Isn’t ESPN’s contract with the SEC? Let’s not pretend it doesn’t work like that,” said Lanning when Canzano spoke on the CFP committee, which has caught flack for having an alleged SEC bias.
On Tuesday, the CFP committee updated their rankings, with the top three three-loss teams residing in the SEC. This season, ESPN started a new ten-year deal with the Southeastern Conference that runs through the 2033-24 season. Lanning’s solution to avoiding the committee’s SEC bias? Simply winning. However, some fans pointed to last season’s Florida State Seminoles squad, which went 13-0, won the ACC, and still missed the then-four-team playoff field, being leapfrogged by a one-loss Alabama team. Those same fans also believe the CFP has a Southeastern Conference bias controlled by ESPN:
ESPN is also a sportsbook. It lacks integrity when the sportsbook and the media collude to manipulate the College Football Playoff by replacing deserving underdog teams with underserved chalk teams.
— sumnugly (@sumNugly) December 6, 2024
Yeah but if you’re a 3 loss SEC team no problem! Welcome to the ESPN Payoff Invitational! College football is broken.
— Saints93 (@Saints9393) December 7, 2024
Undefeated FSU pic.twitter.com/Fi3Fex78MK
— Yancy Rangel (@rangelyancy24) December 6, 2024
He's 100% right
— yafatsista (@ronnynotitalian) December 7, 2024
I've used this video several times, but it's true. ESPN is no longer an "all sports" network. It has a vested interest in college athletics, and they need to promote their product over competitors. pic.twitter.com/xRLB6Hxm3x
— Conner (@C_King2013) December 6, 2024
Thank God for Dan Lanning for speaking the truth. pic.twitter.com/ebaP6q5hxa
— Jamara Hudson (@jamara23732) December 6, 2024
Yep 💯
— guitarm3dic387 (@guitarm3dic387) December 6, 2024
Dan Lanning is speaking reality.
That is capitalism at work
ESPN pays top dollars to broadcast SEC College Football Games, so of course ESPN will do everything in their power that is reasonable to get a return on investment, even if it means putting a 3 loss SEC team in the…
— Jean-Philippe (@mrjeanphilippe) December 7, 2024
— Patrick Corcoran (@hawkeyejoe601) December 6, 2024
But hurt SEC fans up in these replies
— Brian's Daddy (@Alan99169071) December 6, 2024
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