Fox Sports analyst Clay Travis once said in 2021 on Big Noon Kickoff, “I’m not sure any sport lives off the enthusiasm of its fans better than college football. It just brings a different element.” That element becomes supercharged during the College Football Playoff, where an “any given Saturday” feel and a win-or-go-home format make every matchup must-watch television.
For those unfamiliar, the College Football Playoff is a single-elimination postseason tournament used to crown the national champion in Division I FBS football. Beginning in 2024 to 2025, the CFP expanded to 12 teams, with the five highest-ranked conference champions earning automatic bids. The top four teams receive first-round byes, and the remaining eight play opening-round games on campus before advancing to traditional bowl sites for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and ultimately the National Championship.
The playoff used to include only four teams, a format that reached a breaking point in 2023 when undefeated ACC champion Florida State (13-0) was left out entirely. Their exclusion ignited national backlash and raised questions about the selection committee’s criteria and consistency. The outrage was so widespread that it briefly united college football fans, which might be the biggest miracle of the 2023 season.
A similar controversy resurfaced this year with Notre Dame. Despite finishing 10-2, the Fighting Irish were left out of the expanded 12-team field primarily due to a head-to-head loss against the Miami Hurricanes. Their response was unprecedented: Notre Dame opted out of all bowl games in protest, their first postseason absence since 2016. Irish officials blasted the committee’s decision as a “farce,” accusing it of favoring big-brand teams such as Alabama, who jumped Notre Dame despite having three losses.
At Fairfield University, the committee’s decision quickly became a talking point. “Notre Dame got robbed and should have made it over Alabama,” said junior Ryan Fox. By that afternoon, Stags were debating it with the same energy they bring to course registration.
Other students focused on the CFP selection process itself. “The committee’s reasoning shifts year to year, so making the selection process clearer would help everyone understand how teams are evaluated,” said junior Myles Siskind.
These concerns reflect a broader national critique: the CFP committee has guidelines, but it applies them inconsistently. With subjective factors, including the “eye test,” brand value, and the priorities of rotating committee leaders, playing such a large role, the rankings often feel arbitrary rather than objective.
So who do Fairfield students think will actually win it all?
Using data from the popular campus app Fizz, an anonymous social media app used by students, they cast their votes for the team they believe will hoist the national title. The results were:
- Indiana Hoosiers – 31%
- Ohio State Buckeyes – 30%
- Georgia Bulldogs – 20%
- Texas Tech Red Raiders – 8%
- Other – 11%
The Hoosiers have become the nation’s Cinderella story. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza has led Indiana to a perfect 13-0 record and a No. 1 ranking, fresh off a dramatic win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship. Fox expects the playoffs to show how loaded both teams really are.
“Fernando Mendoza will carry Indiana far in the playoffs and solidify himself as a must-need QB1 in the 2026 NFL Draft,” he said. “Ultimately, I think Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith will not be able to be stopped, and Ohio State goes all the way.”
Siskind, meanwhile, is siding with the Fairfield majority. “I am rolling with the Hoosiers,” he said. “They have fought their way into the conversation, and seeing Indiana on the national stage adds a fresh storyline to the playoff picture.” Mendoza will be one of the most-watched players this postseason, and he currently holds the best odds to win the Heisman Trophy at -1000 according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
No matter how the CFP unfolds, viewers are in for a show. Whether Ohio State captures its second straight national title, Indiana completes its unprecedented rise, or another contender makes a surprise run, this year’s playoff promises the kind of excitement college football fans live for, and Fairfield students will certainly be watching.
