From the sidelines
By Marty Gordon
The College Football Committee has received a lot of criticism over the past few years in deciding the final four for the college playoffs, but this year, they might have gotten it right. Georgia definitely deserves to be the top seed, and Michigan is another good choice.
TCU and Ohio State are also good choices, but think about the future of twelve playoff teams. Would it be better or worse?
There are plenty of positives and negatives on both sides of the debate. More will only make it more interesting to watch and maybe more competitive.
If the procedure was in place in 2022, Georgia would face Utah in the first round, along with TCU and Tennessee. Michigan would face Clemson, and Ohio State would battle Alabama.
The larger bracket would draw a larger crowd and of course a larger payout for everyone involved.
But back to 2022, Georgia should have a great opener and for all purposes, should face Michigan in the championship game. A Michigan-Ohio State rematch could add to the conversation, and a TCU-Michigan contest is intriguing. We just hope the fans will show up for the gate and watch on television.
The expansion of the playoffs is just around the corner, and we have to hope it will get better.
Meanwhile, the transfer portal is about to take its toll in Blacksburg. First-year coach Brent Pry is watching the open door with as many as a dozen players simply out of the program.
Earlier this week, he admitted his staff is working with those players and their families to make the right decision for them as an individual. Behind the scenes, he might be sweating the rising temperatures while monitoring the portal for incoming players of his own.
The Hokies need a few good receivers, several defensive linemen, a quarterback to make the
competition stiffer in the spring, and a good running back and some offensive linemen to open holes this fall.
Pry is discovering this is the new way of recruiting, and he will have to do everything possible to convince players that this is the place for them.
Sometimes the grass is not greener on the other side as many former Hokie football players have
discovered.
Thanks for the memories, but Hokie fans will forget you as quickly as you forget them.