James Franklin, Lane Kiffin Discuss College Football Playoff, Peach Bowl
Penn State coach James Franklin said Sunday that college football had an opportunity to avoid the controversy regarding unbeaten Florida State not making College Football Playoff simply by expanding to 12 teams this season. Since that did not happen, Franklin was reminded of 2016, when the Nittany Lions won the Big Ten championship but did not make the College Football Playoff.
"The reality is, we had an opportunity to go to 12 teams this year, and it would have solved a lot of issues for a lot of people right now," Franklin said on a Zoom conference call for the Peach Bowl. "... But there’s always going to be some tough decisions that are going to have to be made and there’s always going to be some hurt feelings. I’ve been through it myself. We won the Big Ten championship [in 2016], and another team from the Big Ten went to the playoffs."
Penn State faces Ole Miss in the Dec. 30 Peach Bowl, marking the first meeting between the teams and their head coaches, Franklin and Lane Kiffin. Had the 12-team playoff been in place this season, No. 10 Penn State and No. 11 Ole Miss (both 10-2) would have qualified for first-round road games. Instead, they'll wait one more season for their playoff opportunities. But clearly, the conversations regarding the College Football Playoff semifinalists drifted into both programs at Penn State and Ole Miss.
Kiffin, coaching in his second New Year's 6 bowl game at Ole Miss, asked recruits on campus for official visits Sunday which four teams they would select for the playoff. Kiffin also shared his thoughts about Florida State, the 13-0 ACC champion, being left out of the four-team field. Ranked No. 4 in last week's CFP Top 25, Florida State fell to No. 5 behind playoff qualifiers Texas and Alabama, where Kiffin spent three seasons as offensive coordinator and won a national championship.
"They had very hard decisions to make," Kiffin said of the CFP selection committee. "I do feel for Florida State and their players for doing everything that they were asked to do and not making it. That was really obviously the first time that’s ever happened. To be undefeated and for that to happen, I did feel for them and coach [Mike] Norvell because they had an amazing season and overcame a lot to do what they did."
In discussing the playoff, Franklin referenced reporting that expansion was delayed because of disagreements between conference commissioners. Specifically, Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reported that the 2021 "Allliance" between the Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC delayed voting and prevented playoff expansion from happening this year. Had the 12-team playoff been in place this season, 10th-seeded Penn State would have opened with a first-round road rematch with No. 7 Ohio State.
"So you can make an argument for a number of teams, and the reality is when we go to 12 teams there’s going to be arguments for 13, 14, 15, no different than basketball deals with," Franklin said. "But I do feel like there was a solution before the season started that would have helped with this a lot."
Instead, Penn State and Ole Miss will meet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for a clash of styles. Penn State leads the nation in total defense and sacks, ranks second in turnovers forced and rushing defense and third in scoring defense. Ole Miss, meanwhile, ranks third in the SEC in total offense and fourth in scoring, rushing and passing. Quarterback Jaxson Dart has thrown for 2,985 yards and 16 touchdowns, while running back Quinshon Judkins is fourth in the SEC in rushing (1,052 yards).
Several milestones are on the table. Penn State can become the first college program to win every New Year's 6 bowl game, while Ole Miss seeks its first 11-win season in school history.
"Me and Lane have known each other for a long time," Franklin said. "Obviously I've followed his career from afar. We have a lot of friends in common as well. It's been great to watch those guys play when I've had the opportunity this year as well. He's always played an exciting brand of football."
Added Kiffin, "We couldn't be more excited to be part of this unbelievable matchup and play a great university and program like Penn State and coach Franklin and all the success that he's hadthere and the great players and be close to home for us to where a lot of our fans will go to a great stadium and view a great matchup."
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