WEDNESDAY RECAP FROM SEC MEDIA DAYS
By Carlyle Rickenmann
Special to TideSports.com
ATLANTA – College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock addressed University of Central Florida’s self-proclaimed national title Wednesday at SEC Media Days.
“For the College Football Playoff, it’s simple: play a good schedule, win your games, and you’re going to be in the hunt,” said Hancock.
After going undefeated in the 2017 season and not making it to the four-team national championship playoff, the UCF Knights argued that they were not given a fair chance because they aren’t from a Power Five conference.
Hancock addressed a hypothetical question about whether going undefeated for a second year in a row would land UCF in the playoff.
“Last year has no bearing on this year,” said Hancock.
Hancock also said there has been “no talk of an expansion” to bring more teams into the playoff. He listed the benefits of having a four-team playoff: more focus on the regular season, the alignment with “the framework of higher education,” and keeping the bowl experience for countless student-athletes.
“The CFP works, and it works well,” he said.
Hancock said the playoff has an 80 percent approval rating and has instilled a “culture of diligence, integrity, and hard work.”
The next national title game will be played Jan. 7, 2019, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The semifinals will be played Dec. 29, hosted by the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl.
