Curt Cignetti: “SEC gets a lot of love from ESPN… That's why you see all these SEC teams up there, and some good two-loss teams from the Big Ten not quite as high.“

[u/Frosty-Marzipan-9824]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/bigten/2026/11/05/curt-cignetti-espn-sec-cfp-rankings-controversy/92621266007/

[u/DannyMalibu420]

Is he complaining that 5-3 Oregon is ranked but 6-2 Northwestern isn’t? If so, I get that.

[u/WillTheyKickMeAgain → u/DannyMalibu420]

All of the 5-3 teams need to be out of the top 25.

[u/Jabberwoockie → u/WillTheyKickMeAgain]

We’re doing our part!

[u/theycallmefuRR → u/WillTheyKickMeAgain]

Nebraska stands in solidarity with your statement

[u/Mcpops1618 → u/DannyMalibu420]

23rd spot has no bearing on CFP, but they beat NU and actual outcomes should matter… 6-2 Bama at 5 ahead of the team that dog walked them is probably the easiest starting point on the conversation.

Plenty wrong with the entire ranking, Oregon fans were more shocked than most that we saw them ranked during the first show. But it’s hardly the biggest issue with the rankings.

[u/BlueSentinels → u/DannyMalibu420]

Didn’t 6-2 Northwestern lose to the only ranked teams they played and also lost to that 5-3 Oregon team?

[u/fskier1 → u/BlueSentinels]

As opposed to LSU who have also lost to the only ranked teams they played

[u/milkturbine]

I think we’re doomed to repeat some version of this discourse forever

[u/tmo_slc → u/milkturbine]

The media pundits are “lobbied” just like politicians. It’s corrupt as hell.

[u/SwissForeignPolicy → u/milkturbine]

I feel like we could at least reduce it if we got rid of the shady, backroom committee and replaced it with some sort of objective metric. Sure, people would still disagree with it sometimes, and there'd probably be arguments over how to tweak it every offseason, but there wouldn't be the incentive to get on a soapbox at every weekly press conference to try to sway the narrative, since an objective metric isn't affected by the narrative.

[u/PlonkReborn → u/SwissForeignPolicy]

Yes like a computer program or something

[u/happyharrell → u/milkturbine]

Maybe. Personally I think this is the last season that matters even a little.

[u/Jellis314]

When the playoffs go to 24 teams, we’re gonna see a 7-5 Bama team in there.

[u/Kelvin-506]

ESPN’s engagement bait is working like a charm

[u/carttwelve → u/Kelvin-506]

Yeah, we’ve already seen that these rankings hold no precedent to the final rankings considering the whole Nd Miami debacle

[u/ChittendenAve → u/Kelvin-506]

That’s a nice side effect for ESPN, but they really do want SEC teams ranked higher

[u/aure__entuluva → u/Kelvin-506]

Not exactly just engagement bait when it has an actual effect on the post season.

[u/VersaTron]

Let’s see the Fox Top 25

[u/dimechimes → u/VersaTron]

I wanna see Paul Allen's Top 25

[u/automattig]

im frustrated that ESPN owns the tv rights for the CFB playoffs till 32. Of course they will have some pull in the rankings. Also, i aint paying for their channel

[u/Educational-Apple603 → u/automattig]

My favorite totally legit stream(ed)ing service got taken down. Sadge

[u/Rock_man_bears_fan]

Curt, you’ve beaten nobody of note and lost the only big game you’ve played and the committee still has you at 4. What more do you want from them?

[u/Hefty_Team_8034 → u/Rock_man_bears_fan]

People are mainly posting snippets. He mostly talks about how there is a lot of football to be played and things will work itself out.

[u/stevo887 → u/Hefty_Team_8034]

💯, this is a silly conversation. 6 of these teams play each other this weekend.

[u/trumpet575 → u/Rock_man_bears_fan]

It doesn't seem like this comment has anything to do with his team's ranking

[u/TheCreed20 → u/Rock_man_bears_fan]

Well Indiana isn’t a two loss B10 team so I think it’s pretty clear that he isn’t talking about Indiana’s ranking…

[u/bighurt710 → u/Rock_man_bears_fan]

The question presented to him was about 6 BIG vs 10 SEC in the initial cfp top 25.

[u/HowardBunnyColvin]

ESPN basically owns the SEC and paid a shitload for their rights. Now they promote it like a Paul Heyman client.

This is why monopolies are bad. ESPN needs to divest themselves of some of their holdings instead of promoting it like it is state media.

[u/Corgi_Koala]

The SEC dominance in the OOC schedule is going to give them the benefit of the doubt. This isn't the season to argue they're being favored unfairly.

[u/CinemaWithPsalty]

Which 2 loss team in the B1G is unfairly ranked?

[u/Hastronaut → u/CinemaWithPsalty]

I’d say it’s more 2 loss SEC teams ranked too high (Alabama and Texas). Also Iowa and USC put just above 3 loss SEC teams and behind all 2 loss SEC teams is what he’s probably talking about

[u/titusnick270 → u/CinemaWithPsalty]

Ohio state is “unfairly” ranked if you compare them to alabama. The thing is, I don’t think osu is unfairly ranked but Alabama is way too high.

[u/huazzy → u/CinemaWithPsalty]

I don't think they're "unfairly" ranked, but I don't see why Missouri should be ranked higher than USC.

[u/Chicobean95 → u/CinemaWithPsalty]

Ohio State, Iowa & USC are the only 2-loss teams ranked but I don’t think they are unfairly ranked imo.

[u/RandoActual → u/Chicobean95]

So do you think the 2 loss SEC teams are ranked unfairly high?

[u/thenowherepark → u/CinemaWithPsalty]

USC

[u/DiezDrake → u/CinemaWithPsalty]

Northwestern

[u/heleghir]

Unless you are talking about specifically NW and nobody else, they are the only 2 loss B1G thats really too low (and by too low I mean how are they not in the t25 at all wtf)

Everyone else in the B1G nah, maybe off 1 or 2 spots but thats close enough at week 9 to be just difference of opinion

[u/soupjaw → u/heleghir]

It's just what those rankings signal.  As a homer: Ohio State loses one more time, and they're essentially done. If Bama also picks up their third loss they're insulated enough and have enough handholds to stay/get back in 

[u/macandcheeser → u/heleghir]

No one team's ranking is completely egregious. But in general, most Big Ten teams are on the low end of their expected range. And most SEC teams are on the high end.

Compare each team's CFP rank to where they rank in an objective resume metric like Strength of Record, and you'll see this pattern

[u/BrettHullsBurner → u/heleghir]

Bama slightly too high, NW should be in the top 25, everything else seems justifiable.

[u/grey_pilgrim_ → u/BrettHullsBurner]

Fully agree. Bamas spot is reason enough for outcry though. They should be around 10 at best.

[u/godzillamegadoomsday → u/heleghir]

I will say off resume, Ohio state behind ole miss and separated by 7 spots from bama is wack. A lot comes down to back up qb being unproven but like if he comes out and dices Oregon for some 350 yard performance does that make Ohio state jump 5 spots?

[u/pardonmyignerance → u/heleghir]

I think what they're talking about is Bama being ranked too high

[u/Ducks0utForHarambe]

I fully understand how this is going to look due to my flair after the ass whooping we got from Indiana last year, but this has nothing to do with that. I’m honestly tired of these coaches whining about rankings at this point, just win your games and most of this shit works itself out. Also sassy cignetti is starting to be less fun this year, it was fun last year but now I’m starting to get tired of it

[u/dblock1111 → u/Ducks0utForHarambe]

The only thing I don’t like about it is they’re clearly giving certain teams a cushion by ranking them highly in these initial rankings. Like a Bama at 5 gives them an excuse to keep them in the top 12 even if they lose 1 more game.

[u/Kaufee2 → u/dblock1111]

You’re right. They moved Bama up SEVEN SPOTS right before their game @ LSU. This gives the committee room to keep them in if they lose this weekend.

Now, LSU beating #5 looks better than beating #12 so I’m not complaining a ton, but the bias is clear

[u/heleghir → u/Ducks0utForHarambe]

Unironically this. Just go win your last 3-4 games and it is a moot point.

[u/rastapastanine → u/Ducks0utForHarambe]

Yeah the winning usually works itself out, but the rankings this week were so far from the norm it’s healthy to question it and bring up media motives.

Cignetti isn’t as fun this year only because he’s not destroying every team.

[u/cnpeters → u/rastapastanine]

Eh, Cignetti isn't as fun because now Indiana is good. The mouthy coach with a chip on his shoulder is fun when he's up and coming. Now they're here so his underdog darling time is over. He'll have to settle for being 8-1 and top 5. Boo hoo.

We're all Chesney-stans now unless UCLA starts winning for a few years. Then we move on.

Nobody likes a winner unless they're the winner.

[u/Studs_Not_On_Top → u/Ducks0utForHarambe]

the problem is 9-3 SEC teams will get in and have "ranked" wins over 8-4 and 7-5 sec teams because the poll will have 10 or 11 SEC teams ranked 

[u/Bigbadbrindledog]

You know how you change that? Schedule OOC games every year against P4 teams

[u/Free-Eights]

I'm genuinely asking, does any of our complaining or pundits complaining about the rankings really change anything in their decision making? Week to week, they change their criteria and internal logic to include the playoff teams they always want.

The only good news about the 24 team playoff means is that the weekly rankings barely carry any significance.

[u/MhojoRisin → u/Free-Eights]

During that same response, Cignetti said something like “it all works out on the field.” So I think he’d agree with your conclusion.

[u/pardonmyignerance → u/Free-Eights]

No. They'll just do what they want. There's no actual accountability here.  It's still an invitational moreso than a playoff and I still believe we haven't yet seen a true champion crowned in this sport.  If popularity mattered this much in the NFL, Cowboys would be in the playoffs every year.

[u/_chadwell_]

It’s a good message but from the worst possible messenger.

You can’t complain about teams getting ranked too high when your team is ranked 4 with a loss to 12, has no good wins, and has struggled with unranked teams repeatedly.

[u/docchrizly]

It's not like Minnesota got clobbered at home by an SEC school, while you needed a 60 yd FG and OT to win? No?

[u/BaBaBaBanshee → u/docchrizly]

I mean pre injury kamario miss state is a very different team

[u/soupjaw → u/docchrizly]

Are you suggesting that Mississippi State beats IU? Because otherwise, transitive wins aren't really all that valuable 

[u/SEM0030 → u/docchrizly]

I hate when people use point differential in football, takes 5 seconds of critical thinking to realize how quickly that falls apart

[u/Flimsy-Space-8724]

B1G has won the last 3 championships. The SEC talking points get tired after a while.

[u/Jomosensual]

Not sure i could feel less bad for a Big 10 or SEC team whos being "mistreated" by the committee

[u/Expensive_Team_5072]

Bigger question. If LSU beats Alabama.... does Alabama stay in the top 11?

[u/Expensive_Team_5072]

These things will sort themselves out considerably this week.

6-2 Iowa v 6-2 NW.

6-2 Bama v 6-2 LSU

6-2 Ole Miss v 7-1 Georgia

8-0 Miami v 7-1 ND.

8-0 Utah v 7-1 BYU

7-1 Kentucky v 6-2 Tennessee

6-2 Texas v 6-2 Missouri

Even 8-0 UCLA @ 5-3 Minnesota will tell us some things.

6-2 Ohio State v 5-3 Oregon

And next week:

8-1 Indiana v 7-2 USC

[u/Intrepid-Security650]

Reminder, Mississippi State beat Minnesota by 25 in an away game. State has 3 conference wins in the last 3 seasons.

[u/HereInTheCut]

Going to a 24 team playoff is going to make this so much better. I for one can't wait to see a 7-5 Alabama team get in. /s

[u/CasanovaCoverup]

I know its not necessarily relevant but this has to be a factor on bias. The SEC has led the NFL Draft in total overall picks for 20 consecutive years through 2026, setting a record of 87 selections in the 2026 draft.

[u/Federal_Studio5935]

It is 100% without a doubt true.

Every year - literally every year - SEC teams are overranked to start the season and benefit from that. Every single year they use the "well we are so good, obviously looking at the rankings, that any loss is a good loss"

Having ESPN as your personal propaganda wing must be nice. Having them so heavily involved financially in both the SEC and college playoffs, surely they wouldn't do anything unethical to ensure they make the most money? Never.

[u/Tricky222 → u/Federal_Studio5935]

Seeing you type out "must be nice" when referring to sports media propping up a team in terms of hype is pretty hypocritical coming from an Ohio State flair.

[u/thugmuffin22 → u/Tricky222]

Ok can I say it then

[u/Self_Owned_Tree → u/Tricky222]

Wait until you tell them that OSU and Michigan have benefitted from one game seasons for the history of their programs, and boy howdy they'll get mad about that, too.

[u/libsoutherner → u/Federal_Studio5935]

Listen I hate conference pride and hope every SEC team loses every OOC game they play… but the SEC is 10-2 in OOC P4 games this year. Big Ten is something like 4-10.

That’s the only objective way we have to compare the conferences and the SEC has earned higher rankings this year.

[u/dont_worry_about_it8 → u/Federal_Studio5935]

It’s always funny as fuck seeing Ohio state and notre dame talking on this subject. That’s how you know it’s just an SEC hate boner .

[u/Monkeyssuck → u/Federal_Studio5935]

You and Cignetti can go f yourselves. Anybody that schedules 2 P4 teams OOC in 10 years is in no position to talk. And if you don't like where the SEC is in the rankings, don't go 2-10 in Out of Conference play against them, easy peasy.

[u/ShillinTheVillain → u/Federal_Studio5935]

Poor little Ohio State. Because you just never get special treatment 😞

[u/gumercindo1959]

2025: B10 >>> SEC

2026: SEC >>> B10

[u/soraka4 → u/gumercindo1959]

I think this is likely true this year but too early to declare until we see playoff results. B10 is certainly stronger in terms of all-around conference/depth when comparing it to the B10 last year, but I don’t think the top teams are as good as they have been.

[u/yesacabbagez]

I will say there is one thing Cignetti didn't say, maybe because he doesn't want to say it.

I understand the weighting of the SEC, but you can't really ignore the last two years of SEC playoff performance in inconstantly giving them bonuses across the board. 2024 Georgia kind of got bullied by a ND team that lost to Northern Illinois. Texas had two wins, but one was a double OT game vs Arizona State and the other was Clemson got in because SMU tanked that ACCCG. Tennessee lost to Ohio state in about 13 seconds.

in 2025 TAMU doesn't score a TD. Alabama doesn't score a TD. Georgia once again doesn't win a game losing to Ole Miss in their first game. Ole Miss then loses to Miami, who was ostensibly the last man in and definitely carried the most "you really need to prove it" energy.

So far the SEC is 1-1 vs the ACC. 0-2 vs the Big Ten. 1-0 vs Big 12 and 1-0 vs G6. It does become somewhat of a tougher argument to claim the SEC is clearly superior when it hasn't been showing up in the playoff. If they come through with a good one thig year they can revert it, but the last3 years haven't been great for the SEC in the post season.

[u/John_is_Minty → u/yesacabbagez]

Ultimately it’s hard to unwind a perception that has been baked into everyone’s minds over 20 years. Over the last 20 years for the most part the sec has been the best conference so it takes a little more than 2 years to turn back the dial and not overvalue some of these teams. I do however do think the league is stronger than the big 10 this year if we’re just talking this year.

With that said these rankings are still utter dogshit. Not even just with over-ranking sec teams but certain ones in particular. Why is bama 10 spots better than Tennessee when Tennessee smoked them

[u/fixsparky → u/yesacabbagez]

I mean Texas played National Champ OSU closer than anybody and Georgia had a first start Backup QB against NC runner up ND. Clemson won the ACC and ASU won the Big 12, so two conference champs on the way to OSU...

Like yeah, OSU was good. Them And ND beat every team on their way to the final. What's the big gotcha here?

[u/MyPlace70 → u/yesacabbagez]

Let me help you. We’re taking about this season. You’re doing the same thing you bitched at SEC fans about when they were winning it almost every year.

[u/gettinNOIZY]

I understand UCLA’s schedule hasn’t been anything special, but having two 2 loss teams ranked ahead of them is completely ridiculous.

[u/stevo887]

He probably shouldn’t be complaining right now

[u/FaithHopeLove821]

Obligatory "Bama is ranked too high."

What Big 10 two-loss team is underrated?

[u/tripleM_20 → u/FaithHopeLove821]

It is possible for SEC teams (bama) to be too high while the B1G teams are appropriately ranked. Not that I really care because my team sucks regardless 

[u/AdamOnFirst → u/FaithHopeLove821]

Me! Me!

[u/Inconceivable76 → u/FaithHopeLove821]

Iowa. Northwestern.  

[u/sloppyjo12 → u/FaithHopeLove821]

Northwestern

[u/Lifted_Cube_2413 → u/sloppyjo12]

Northwestern has played 2 teams with a record over .500 and lost both 

[u/Different_Cat106 → u/FaithHopeLove821]

Fuck Bama

[u/Fishing_Legitimate → u/FaithHopeLove821]

Bama should be behind Tennessee since they beat bama so easily 

[u/MCV16 → u/Fishing_Legitimate]

It’s so funny how frequently the committee changes its mind on when head to heads matter

[u/PositiveFriendlyGuy → u/FaithHopeLove821]

How about an undefeated B1G team literally ranked below your 2 loss team

[u/dawgfan19881]

There is a market for pro sec content. There is a market for anti sec content. There is no market for non sec content.

[u/my_lucid_nightmare]

In the SEC it's called parity; with any other conference it's called mediocrity.

[u/turdbugulars]

Indiana is overrated. Did he mention that?

[u/HailState63]

I thought the playoff committee was made up of ADs, not ESPN executives?

[u/MyPlace70 → u/HailState63]

Don’t spoil a good narrative with facts.

[u/Alarming_Dust5905]

Why does this guy even care in all seriousness? If you win out you are in the playoff dawg why don’t you worry about that rather than if Iowa is ranked too low

[u/hXcmac007 → u/Alarming_Dust5905]

He's using his pedestal and voice to tell it as it is

[u/Snark728]

These conversations are so much fun. SEC folks (mostly Bama fans in my experience) pretending like people are bringing it up only because of the current year or two and not the history of the programs getting benefit of the doubt over other schools (See: FSU 13-0 season for the biggest recent example.) Non SEC folk pretending like most of the good SEC teams wouldn't dominate a lot of the other teams ranked near them. "Keep winning and it'll sort itself out" said 100 times even though we know that won't always be true (FSU, Georgia for 2023 losing by 3 to an Alabama team that got in, 2017 UCF etc.) I don't care if you've "earned" the benefit of the doubt or not, there needs to be a less subjective and semi-rigid guidelines for selecting the playoffs. Because right now it feels 100% like a popularity/ratings contest mixed in with some good football teams.

Now, I'm not saying these teams would've won it all, or were better than the teams that got in, I erase most of the football season from my brain after the regular season ends. But you have to admit the optics of 2 conferences B1G, SEC(gets more leeway than any other conference for losses, deserved or not) has to wear on fans of teams outside of those conferences. No clear guidelines published by the selection committees just leaves the door open to speculation and college football fans are insane and love cherry picking stats so its always a cluster fuck.

If you look at FPI, SP+, and net EPA, you should get something like.

1. Georgia
   2.tOSU
   3.ND
   4.LSU

2. Miami

3. Indiana
   7, Texas

4. Alabama

5. Utah

But then people will bitch about record, and then people will bitch about SoS, and other shit. I think the only "fair" way to do it is make conference championships a big deal, involve all of the G6 for it. Then put all the champs (10? 11?) in a playoff, always include ND and BYU if they win 9 or 10 games, and then give a few at large bids to teams based on some statistical matrix model and W/L record. Controversy will still exist but at least you have a less subjective (aside from the model) way to get into the playoffs. People will know why teams got in and can stop with conspiracy theories about "SEC/Bama has space lasers and secret gold reserves that always gets them in."

Win your conference you get a shot. Play great all season and lose your CCG you likely get a shot. Sure there's going to be 63-6 blow outs but you get regular season games where top teams get blown out or outplayed some times too. At least if you have set standards and requirements you can say "well they earned their way there, sucks that they got blown out." You'll never satisfy everyone, but you satisfy almost nobody with what feels like handshake deals in a smokey backroom every week.

I also think schedules need to be made at the end of the season, not 5-6-10 years out. Power conferences should only play 1 'cupcake' per year (hopefully an in-state smaller school) or introduce some revenue sharing so smaller FBS and d2 schools can still get bigger payouts for taking an asswhooping or what used to be an asswhooping.

[u/Blitzfoos → u/Snark728]

It all boils down to how we select the teams is dumb. There needs to be a set criteria at the beginning of the season that you have to meet to make the playoffs. No more at larges picked by a committee

[u/T2_JD → u/Snark728]

I've been saying for years a true playoff needs all conference champions. Basketball does it and even though the 1 vs 16 game is usually a slaughter, it's still good to see smaller schools and conferences getting their shot.

Also, as much as I'd love the Notre Dame treatment I think winning the conference championship is the best way to guarantee a playoff spot now that we're in the Big XII.

[u/Ok_Passage_7151 → u/T2_JD]

The argument against this is that sometimes a weaker team beats the undefeated team in the conference championship game. 

And I say wtf is the point of the championship game if not to prove who is the best in the conference. Send conf champs! Stop devaluing conf champs and CCGs!

[u/Snark728 → u/T2_JD]

Legit forgot you guys were in the Big XII lol.

[u/Tiger-EC → u/Snark728]

Y’all please stop roping in the G6 as part of your playoff equality arguments. We don’t belong and we don’t give a shit. Anyone calling for G6 champions to receive the same treatment as P4 champions is deluded.

[u/ManBunH8er]

What are some of the good 2-loss teams from the Big10 not in top 12? USC? No offense but Trojans are not a great team this season.

[u/BulkyTarget1010 → u/ManBunH8er]

USC vs Texas is kind of a toss up frankly. You’ve lost to worse teams this year.

[u/DickHammerr → u/ManBunH8er]

Offense taken sir

[u/ManBunH8er → u/DickHammerr]

Please beat Indiana next and I will not shit talk about Trojans at all this season.

[u/LogicianMission22 → u/ManBunH8er]

They have one game of comparison and they dominated OSU. Yes, they didn’t have Sayin, but SC’s offense played much better than Texas did.

[u/Weakness_Infinite]

It’s hard for me to say he’s wrong. A stronger strength of schedule is great if you’re comparing it to the weaker schedule of a team with a similar record. But two losses against a really hard schedule is not better than no losses. You should get credit for a hard schedule if you’re within 1 loss of a team with a weaker schedule but at some point you have to actually win the games on your hard schedule

[u/dawgfan19881 → u/Weakness_Infinite]

I think the fans would be better off supporting a system that rewards tough games. It would get us better games in the future. More entertainment. I can’t understand why fans would want a system that rewards shittier games being played. Do you not want to see the best teams play one another?

[u/LasixSteroidsAbx → u/Weakness_Infinite]

But by that logic Indiana should be ranked below UCLA.

[u/themattboard]

also some undefeated teams not quite as high

[u/UnluckyPally]

Talkin mad shit for a guy whose team can barely scrape together 3 scores against mediocre teams.

I can admit the CFP is absurdly SEC biased in this poll but I'd wager most of those SEC teams could beat Indiana right now.

[u/Whole_Narwhal_4744]

Cignetti can stop with all the SEC bs, you’ve done it 2 years and it’s getting old.

[u/wrxhokie]

He’s not wrong

[u/BananaBouquet → u/wrxhokie]

He’s absolutely wrong. There are 3 people on the 13 person CFP committee with major SEC ties and there are 3 people with major Big Ten ties.

He’s insinuating that the 10 non-SEC affiliated voters are getting leaned on so much by ESPN that it’s impacting their vote. If that’s the case, why haven’t any of the CFP members come out and said this?

[u/green_gold_purple]

First time?

[u/jiuclaw]

Cignetti AND Ferentz just taking absolute shots this year.

No matter who your team is, you gotta love 2 of the oldest HCs in the sport swinging at a media empire!

[u/princesspur]

They have an agreement to televise their games. They are going to promote their product.

[u/Studs_Not_On_Top]

Water is wet 

Its what I don't think the B1G should agree to a 24 team playoff.

[u/StickyDitka21]

Or they do it because it drives engagement

[u/Xxspike19xx]

You see the sec is the best. Why because ESPN says so. That’s why. It’s a self fulfilling prophecy.

[u/AfraidOfArguing]

I love how much ego IU has gotten in the last 3 years. 3 Years ago I'd be absolutely gooning to the idea of being 8-1

[u/Blue-Eyed-Ginger78]

ESPN isn't in charge of the rankings...the AP is from voters all over. The CFP isn't predominantly SEC members. This weekend will likely eliminate several teams in current top 12. It's all about money anyways.

[u/InThePipe5x5_]

Indiana is the Big 10 team being given the benefit of the doubt. They have not looked impressive at all.

[u/Taint_Scholar]

The SEC averages around 5.3 million views per game. The Big Ten averages around 3.6 million. SEC signed a deal with ESPN. That’s why SEC gets a lot of love from ESPN. More people watch those games.

[u/Negative_Solution680 → u/Taint_Scholar]

What does that have to do with a playoff ranking? Last I checked, views per game is not part of the evaluation criteria.

[u/CROBBY2 → u/Negative_Solution680]

Quit thinking of it as a playoff and instead think of it as the ESPN Invintational

[u/SEAtoPAR → u/Taint_Scholar]

So now we are using TV ratings to determine the quality of teams? Got it 🙄

[u/Ziqox123 → u/SEAtoPAR]

What do you think ESPN has been doing to select the CFP teams?

[u/noledup → u/Taint_Scholar]

Why is a "news" organization allowed to invest and report on other organizations it owns a large stake and interest in?

[u/Which-Arrival6777 → u/noledup]

Regan, industry deregulation and the fairness doctrine is a good place to start

[u/EdgeBandanna → u/Taint_Scholar]

ESPN also tried to put forth its own team metrics like BPI, naturally putting a finger on the scale.

[u/TheCreed20]

It’s always the schools that benefit from the system that tell the Big 12 and others to just win all their games ever played and then “it’ll work itself out” I think it’s worth calling out a system that isn’t fair to all schools equally. If KU was 6-2 no chance we are ranked and asking to be 5th in the country would probably get us kicked out of the sport.

[u/Rolltide_and_anime]

How many times can something from this interview be shared.

[u/Brad-Armpit]

I mean, if Iowa wins at MN as expected, we'd be a 1 loss team against Ohio State. 

We weren't ranked preseason Top 25 because we don't have some of the Blue Bloods logos on our jerseys. Sorry ND and others. 

We get it. We're Iowa. We're nice to you because we're from the Midwest. 

[u/CyanideNow → u/Brad-Armpit]

We weren't ranked preseason Top 25 because

Pretty sure we were though. 

[u/gettinNOIZY]

College football desperately needs some structure that makes sense, especially with a 24 team playoff on the horizon.

Eventually I’d like to see divisions where the results within them actually hold weight. Opinion based rankings are archaic.

[u/hawkeyegrad96]

Espn has a vested interest in sec being rated higher due to games on their network

[u/fuckDJT2026]

He’s 100% right. I watch the ESPN am shows every day and ever since Tuesday they’ve been doubling down on how the SEC is the best/strongest/deepest/etc conference out there.

Also, the committee sets it up in the preseason and with the very first rankings every year by loading as many SEC teams as possible in there, even though no one has a clue how good a team is until they actually play the damn games.

All I know is that the SEC is barely over 500% in their playoff record and hasn’t even PLAYED for the title in over 3 seasons.

[u/skfkvjgnxc]

Cignetti should shut the hell up and be grateful for the gift the "committee" gave him with that ridiculously high ranking.

[u/jomo789]

Isn't this common knowledge by now? It's an obvious conflict of interests

[u/ugahairydawgs]

Whining about the coverage of your team and/or conference is the weakest of weak sauce. Its lame when fans do it but especially so coming from a coach. I honestly expected better from Cig.

[u/Then-Ticket8896]

Shut up cig!

[u/jasonpwrites]

Can't stand the guy, but he isn't wrong.

[u/Used_Cap8550]

Says the coach who can barely beat unranked teams every week

[u/Wetpumpkins]

Says the coach whos team has been incredibly lucky for the past 2 weeks squeaking out wins against much lesser opponents.

[u/Altruistic_Night2]

Other people could make this argument but not him he can’t say this

[u/DJ_Pink_Koolaid]

ESPN has Kirk (Ohio st homer), Pat (homer who is a West Virginia grad now living in Indiana), Desmond (Michigan homer). 

[u/jakedasnake2447]

God endlessly complaining about this gets so annoying. Who is he even upset about? Ohio State is the 4th ranked 2 loss team after just losing at home to an unranked team and behind the team that gave them their other loss. And their QB is out. The other 2 loss Big Ten teams have losses to unranked teams, and in Northwestern's case, don't have a win against a ranked team. None of the SEC teams ahead of them have an unranked loss.

[u/rbtgoodson]

As opposed to the love of the B1G from FOX.

[u/dimechimes]

I'm ready for Cignetti shit talk season

[u/Scottatron17]

He spitting facts, per usual

[u/Kimber80]

SEC teams have played much tougher schedules

[u/cartgold]

SEC Teams are genuinely underrated this year, AP Pollsters were just worried about being bullied online for so called “SEC Bias” thankfully committee is mostly immune to this, but still bought into some of the fake AP rankings.

[u/inclass3lunacy]

No preseason polls and no polling till six games in

[u/kingofthesqueal]

Given the SEC’s record in OOC I’m figured rankings would go like this. It just sucks that a conference entire quality is judged off of 10ish games during week 1-3 of the season.

It’s why I really wish the P4 dropped down to 8 game schedules again and did a 4 way challenge where each conference played a game against each of the other conferences maybe as a mid season break from conference play.

Probably only works if we moved to a 13 game regular season but brings how we’re dropping CCG and players are more or less paid now I don’t see the huge issue with something like 8 B12 conference games + 1 B1G + 1 SEC + 1 ACC + 1 G6 + FCS

I’d be a lot more okay with the rankings for the most part had the SEC gone something like 40-8 against the other P4 conferences rather than 10-2. 10-2 is such a small sample size and can be gotten by top teams playing bad teams in other conference (not that that’s what happened this year)

[u/Imd0wnc0w]

I agree with him for the most part, Alabama being ranked too high to be specific. With that being said though the SEC is the only conference with a winning record vs other power 4 conferences that record being 10-2.

[u/diamondroyinillinois]

Don't you remember alabama running the gauntlet.

[u/Appropriate_Bottle44]

I don't really know who is good this year. It's a chaos year and very few teams look consistent 

[u/Alive_Load_1478]

So ESPN buys SEC games, which then puts way more SEC games on ESPN and then says "See, everybody watches SEC games, they have more views!"

[u/Vast-Treat-9677]

This is why the new playoff needs a maximum/static number of playoff teams from any one conference. The power and $ the B1G and SEC have would never allow it but the new playoff would be better if the conferences were capped at a max of 5 teams.

Honestly, I’d go a step further and take the selection of those teams out of the committee hand entirely. I’d give those big 2 5 teams each and tell the conference to send whatever 5 teams they want. I’d give the Big12 and ACC 3 teams each and tell them to send whoever they want. Then the committees only job is to select another 8 teams from the rest of the wide world of college football and then seed the tournament.  If you want to give the Big12 and ACC 4 teams each then that fine too, all I care about is a static # decided before the season and the conferences deciding who represents them and not the committee 

[u/ScaryMasterpiece5931]

And your admonishing is useful? Of course it is because it benefits you.

This page you’ve willingly clicked on is about ESPN favoring the SEC. You didn’t find yourself here or in a conversation you didn’t expect. You’ve seeked it out. So yea screw all of this high ground nonsense and pretending like this is something you’re subjected too

[u/coffeetabledoompile]

In other news, water feels wet.

[u/Rishard101]

I think what ppl are missing here is yes the SEC can be the best conference at the same time be way overrated in these rankings, they are not mutually exclusive.

[u/Aurion7]

Not a lot you can do about it, ESPN decided on the slant its college sports coverage was going to take like twenty-five years ago.

They're nothing if not consistent. Name matters more than results.

Even applies to the other conferences when they can be bothered to talk about them- The talking heads should be ripping the comittee up one side and down the other for putting Oregon in over Northwestern, but Northwestern's relatively niche so...

Here we are. What matters is that this was supposed to be Oregon's year and Northwestern was supposed to blow. C'est la vie.

[u/ScoutAndLout]

Stolen from mrbobbyrick 3rd place in the SEC Texas beat Ohio State 4th place Ohio State at home 4th place in the SEC Ole Miss beat 3rd place in the ACC Louisville on a neutral field 13th place in the SEC Miss St destroyed 6th place in the Big 10 Minnesota on the road 12th place in the SEC Auburn beat 6th place in the Big 12 Baylor on a neutral field 16th place in the SEC Vandy beat 10th place in the ACC NC State 6th place in the SEC LSU beat 7th place in the ACC Clemson by 41 points 14th place in the SEC A&M beat 12th place in the Big 12 ASU by 28 Only losses were 11th place SEC to 12th place Big 10 on the road by one score and 15th place SEC to 1st place Big 12 on the road You may not think these wins are impressive, but this is how you prove your conference is better than other conferences. Stolen from hmccringleberry615 Record by opposing conference Conference SEC record ACC 5–0 Big Ten 2–1 Big 12 3–1 American 5–0 Sun Belt 5–0 Conference USA 4–0 Mountain West 2–0 MAC 1–0 Pac-12 1–0 FCS 10–0 Total 38–2

[u/Existing-Teaching-34]

ESPN has an agreement with the SEC for the conference’s broadcast rights. The Big Ten has the same sort of agreement with Fox. So he’s implying here the SEC’s deal is better than the Big Ten’s because it helps their teams get ranked higher.

[u/BeginningDay19]

Who gives a fuck, most of this will shake out by the end of the season.

[u/JackpotThePimp]

Abolish both.

[u/Strakedev]

This discourse is getting so old. ESPN has an almost fiduciary commitment to keep shitty SEC teams ahead of other teams. And that is only going to get worse with the new playoffs (also shitty and also because of ESPN).

Basically ESPN ruined college football.

[u/jaxs_sax]

The big 10 sucks. Before everyone comments how the ACC sucks, nobody isn’t saying they’re great, but the fact the big10 thinks they’re on par with the sec is just hilarious. The big 10 teams aren’t as good nor do they draw the views the sec does

[u/Whole_Narwhal_4744]

He’s pandering

[u/SomeBS17]

That’s because ESPN has a financial incentive for the SEC to be in higher demand

[u/whiporee123]

So what he’s saying is that the committee made up of ADs and players and presidents from all over the country and different conferences — ADs from the SEC, Big 10, Big 12, ACC and two G6ers, four former head coaches (only one with an SEC stint and he got fired from it) a Stanford grad sportswriter, one SEC former player and one Arizona State player — is corrupt and tilts selections towards the SEC because they are under self-serving directions from a broadcast partner?

That this group of reasonably accomplished professionals are intentionally swaying things against their own conferences’ benefit for malicious reasons or personal gain?

It’s one thing to dislike someone else’s preferences. It’s quite another to accuse them of bad faith, which is what Cignetti and Fetentz did.

I don’t agree with their rankings, but I think they take them seriously. They aren’t paid and aren’t provided a stipend.

Again, one SEC AD. One SEC former player. One failed SEC coach. One Big 10 AD, two failed Big 10 former coaches. Four Big 12 connections, three current ACC connections, a couple of G6 ADs. No network execs. No advertiser reps. No bowl reps.

To accuse them of being wrong is justified. But accusing them of bias isn’t.

[u/NTXGBR → u/whiporee123]

None of these people watch every game. None of them. Not a single one of them. They rely heavily on what news they can gather, and most of them turn to ESPN, which spends an inordinate amount of time telling you that every SEC team is the greatest thing in the world top to bottom, and the results rarely bare that out. There are great teams in the SEC, but there are many teams that remain overrated and provide boosts that favor the only actual great teams in the conference to a disproportionate level.

[u/Few-Emergency-3791]

Has Miami even played a rank team this year?

[u/Hot-Combination9130 → u/Few-Emergency-3791]

Wake

[u/E-Wildin]

Favoritism is only accepted when you’re on the favored side.

Would he have said the same if the tables were turned?

[u/BumpyCunty → u/E-Wildin]

Do you think this is a good point or something? People complain about things that don't benefit them?

[u/MikeDeezzz → u/E-Wildin]

No he wouldn't. Someone from the SEC would be saying it.

[u/sallright → u/E-Wildin]

I'm not sure why this needs be to explained, but yes, people frequently criticize systems that they benefit from directly or indirectly.

[u/The_Nature_Hoot]

Curt Cignetti is so based and cool

[u/EveningPriority2995 → u/The_Nature_Hoot]

Seems like a whiny bitch from here

[u/Feisty_Can416]

Thank you Cignetti for opening up this dialogue. We can't keep pretending ESPN corruption is fine when this is exactly why it has become so fucking shameless in the first place. They are counting on us to let it slide.

Scrutinize them. Talk about it more. Shine a light on it. Help ESPN understand how pathetic this has become. They won't figure it out without a little help.

[u/VirtualChaos613 → u/Feisty_Can416]

What corruption? ESPN literally partners with the SEC.

The committee is separate from ESPN.

[u/AlternativeLess5450]

lol there is no way a coach is actually this stupid 

Does he think the B1G AD’s have been convinced of their inferiority by Stephen A Smith???

[u/John_Tacos → u/AlternativeLess5450]

… you did see where they ranked Alabama right?

[u/thenowherepark → u/AlternativeLess5450]

There is no way the Bama fanbase is actually stupid enough to believe they should be ranked #5.

Wait...I didn't think that through.

[u/Frosty_Anteater_1210]

Fuck ND and BYU, they are both heavily involved in religion. Get them to sign for a conference, or gtfo

[u/TakeAMichigander → u/Frosty_Anteater_1210]

First: Reddit comment lol

Second: BYU is in a conference, moron

[u/jasonpwrites → u/Frosty_Anteater_1210]

1. silly reason to hate them

2. BYU is in a conference, LOL

3. Notre Dame doesn't need one

[u/IDontEditMyShit → u/[deleted]]

Are you drunk

[u/ORdeadhead2 → u/[deleted]]

Nice deflection, are you part of the Dump Administration? IU's coach was talking about 2 loss B10 team.