The 2025 college football season made history with the debut of a 12‑team College Football Playoff, a format that promised more schools a shot at the national title.
Among the five highest‑rated conference champions were the Tulane Green Wave and the James Madison Dukes, each earning an automatic bid to the expanded bracket.
Both teams entered their first‑round matchups with optimism, but the reality was stark: Tulane fell 41‑10 and James Madison lost 51‑34, underscoring the chasm between the traditional powerhouses and the up‑and‑coming programs.
A Call for a New Structure
Veteran analyst Paul Finebaum, appearing on ESPN, argued that smaller schools can no longer compete on equal footing with the sport’s wealthiest programs.
He suggested that the only realistic path for those institutions might be to band together and create a parallel league, one that could offer its own championship and postseason opportunities.
Finebaum’s remarks reflect a growing sentiment that the current playoff model privileges programs with deep pockets, elaborate facilities and the ability to attract top talent through name, image and likeness deals.
The transfer portal and the proliferation of NIL agreements have turned player movement into a market‑driven phenomenon, funneling the best prospects to schools with the most lucrative offers.
In this climate, a lone exception stands out: Ashton Jeanty, who chose to remain at Boise State and delivered one of the most dominant rushing seasons in recent memory, proving that individual brilliance can still shine amid the upheaval.
Nevertheless, the data suggest that the odds of Group of Five teams breaking through the playoff barrier are slim, and the structural imbalance is likely to persist unless a fundamental restructuring occurs.
For now, the conversation remains centered on whether a separate league could level the playing field, or whether the sport will continue to crown champions from the same elite cohort year after year.