Kenny Dillingham's bizarre plea for CFP bye raises eyebrows
- Kenny Dillingham believes Arizona State should be a top-four team in the College Football Playoff after winning the Big 12 title.
- He made a comparison to Florida State's exclusion last year due to their quarterback's injury, arguing that his team deserves consideration as a healthy 11-1 squad.
- Critics pointed out that Dillingham's argument lacked strength and that he should focus on his team's current achievements instead.
In the recent Big 12 title game, the Arizona State Sun Devils secured a commanding victory over the Iowa State Cyclones with a score of 45-19. Following this win, head coach Kenny Dillingham expressed his belief that his team deserves a top-four ranking in the College Football Playoff (CFP) and should receive a bye. He argued that since Arizona State finished the season with an impressive record of 11-1 and were crowned Big 12 champions, they should be treated similarly to other successful teams from prior seasons. He referenced the previous year's exclusion of Florida State from the playoff, which occurred because their quarterback was injured. Dillingham implied that his team, with a healthy quarterback and a strong record, should not face the same fate. However, Dillingham's rationale was critiqued as flawed, with discussions noting that the comparison to Florida State did not account for significant differences between the two teams' seasons, particularly in how many games each played with a backup quarterback. This comparison drew attention to a broader issue regarding the selection process for playoff spots, as only four conference champions, regardless of their performance, can secure byes in the playoff rankings. Dillingham's insistence on using last season's controversies to make his case suggests a need for a stronger focus on the achievements of his current team rather than drawing parallels to past events which may not appropriately reflect the current context. Ultimately, the debate highlighted the challenges and complexities involved in the College Football Playoff selection process, emphasizing the importance of a team's current season performance over historical decisions. Moving forward, it may benefit Dillingham to concentrate on the specific accomplishments of Arizona State's season rather than past playoff decisions when making future arguments for their standing in the playoff rankings.