Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1288550
40 NWA COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 9.20.2020 IS THERE GOING TO BE A COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF THIS SEASON IN THE MIDST OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC? The CFP administration is still planning to have the playoffs in the same four-team format that debuted in 2014. "The conferences, whoever decides to play, can get together and do what they need to do," CFP executive director Bill Hancock told radio show "The Opening Kickoff" on WNSP-FM 105.5 in Mobile, Ala., in an Aug. 17 interview. "Right now, we're hoping for a College Football Playoff. We're certainly planning for a championship game in Miami." The selection committee still plans to meet regularly and issue its final rankings on Dec. 20. "We just don't know what the season will bring," Hancock said. "None of us do, but the committee will be ready. They'll use their protocol and expertise of the members to rank the teams." Hancock was asked whether the playoff games could be pushed into the 2021 calendar? "We will be flexible," he said. CAN THERE BE A LEGITIMATE PLAYOFF WITHOUT BIG TEN AND PAC-12 TEAMS PLAYING THIS SEASON? Either Clemson or an SEC team has won the past five national titles, so yes, it does appear that as long as the ACC and SEC are playing, a legitimate champion can be crowned. Granted, Big Ten power Ohio State won the first playoff title in 2014 and was among playoff teams in 2016 and 2019 as well. The Buckeyes would be among the favorites to make the playoff if the Big Ten was playing this season. But with Alabama winning titles in 2015 and 2017, Clemson winning in 2016 and 2018 and LSU winning last year, the Big Ten shouldn't be missed that much. And the Pac-12? Of the 24 playoff slots filled the previous six years, only one Pac-12 team — Washington in 2016 — has made it, and the Huskies lost in the semifinals to Alabama. WHAT ABOUT OKLAHOMA AND THE PLAYOFF? Sorry, forget about the Sooners for a second. Yes, look for Oklahoma to win the Big 12, make the playoffs and then lose in the semifinals to an SEC team. That's what happened to the Sooners in 2017 when they lost to Georgia, in 2018 when they lost to Alabama and in 2019 when they lost to LSU. Oklahoma also lost in the semifinals to Clemson in 2015. IS THERE STILL AN ARKANSAS PRESENCE ON THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SELECTION COMMITTEE? Yes, Arkansas is well represented on the 13-person committee by Ken Hatfield and Terry Mohajir. Hatfield, the former University of Arkansas player and coach who now lives in Northwest Arkansas, is on the committee for the third consecutive year. Mohajir, the Arkansas State University athletic director, is on the committee for the second year. There has been someone with ties to an Arkansas school on the committee since its first season in 2014. Jeff Long was the UA athletic director when he served on the committee from 2014-17. He was the chairman for the first two seasons. He is now the Kansas athletic director. Joining Hatfield and Mohajir on this year's committee are Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta, the chairman; Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin; Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione; Colorado AD Rick George; Wyoming AD Tom Burma; Georgia Tech AD Todd Stansbury; R.C. Slocum, the former coach at Texas A&M; Ronnie Lott, a former star defensive back at USC and in the NFL; John Urschel, a former offensive tackle at Penn State; Ray Odierno, a former Army chief of staff; and Paola Boivin, a professor at Arizona State who is a former reporter and columnist at the Arizona Republic newspaper. She is the only female member of the committee. WHEN AND WHERE ARE THE PLAYOFF GAMES THIS SEASON? The semifinal games are scheduled to be played Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl. The championship game is scheduled to be played on Jan. 11 in Miami. Notice we wrote "scheduled." Everything is fluid this season. WHAT TEAMS FIGURE TO MAKE THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF? According to most Las Vegas betting lines, Clemson and Alabama are heavy favorites to make the playoffs again. No surprise there considering the Tigers and Tide each have two playoff titles and five appearances in six years. Other favorites according to Las Vegas oddmakers are Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Texas, Texas A&M, LSU, Auburn and Oklahoma State. COLLEGE FOOTBALL FAQ PRIMER BY BOB HOLT AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley holds up the Big 12 Conference championship trophy after their win against TCU in the NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.