Oller’s Second Thoughts: Big Ten, SEC trying to run college football into playoff iceberg

At approximately 2:05 a.m. on April 15, 1912, Thomas Andrews was spotted standing alone in the first-class smoking room of the Titanic, arms folded, life belt lying on a nearby table.

Andrews, the naval architect who had helped design the suddenly doomed ocean liner, did not respond when a steward asked, “Aren’t you going to have a try for it, Mr. Andrews?”

Whether contemplating his fate or frozen in shock over the inevitable end of his “unsinkable” masterpiece, no one knows. Andrews went down with the ship, one of more than 1,500 passengers who died that frigid night in the North Atlantic.

No loss of life is tied directly to the sea change happening in college football, but fans cannot be blamed if, like Andrews, they stare blankly into the scene, stunned and saddened by events impacting a game that is collapsing and sinking fast.

More Rob Oller: Oller’s Second Thoughts: Ohio State quarterback room crowded but cool, at least so far

Alabama Crimson Tide band plays Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, before the College Football Playoff National Championship against Georgia at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Syndication The Indianapolis Star

And now comes another iceberg warning that may go unheeded. Except that unlike NIL and the transfer portal, which were unavoidable as the courts cry “Full steam ahead,” the latest obstacle can be navigated around. But if not, it may be the most damaging of all.

Raise your binoculars to the horizon and what you see is the Big Ten and SEC bucking for preferential treatment by each wanting to be guaranteed of getting three teams in what could become a 14-team playoff in 2026.

Mar 7, 2024; Columbus, OH, United States; A replica of the Titanic that is part of the new exhibit “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI).

And if that happens, well, head for the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ollers-second-thoughts-big-ten-180846305.html

Author : The Columbus Dispatch

Publish date : 2024-03-07 18:08:46

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