Picture a chilly day in a Connecticut suburb, where a man sits comfortably by a warm fire with a steaming cup of coffee.

Now, envision Burke Magnus, ESPN’s content president, witnessing in dismay as the College Football Playoff selection committee chair makes a statement that undermines the excitement of the college football season. The most thrilling weekend of the season was soon overshadowed by a declaration regarding championship week.

One incredibly inappropriate remark.

“We won’t adjust rankings for those not playing during championship week,” stated Warde Manuel, athletic director at Michigan and chair of the CFP selection committee. “They lack another data point, obviously.”

No, not obviously. Quite the opposite.

If Georgia defeats Texas in the SEC championship — the top conference in college football — that doesn’t count as another data point for Ole Miss? The same Ole Miss that’s precariously perched at No. 13 in the ranking?

The same Ole Miss that would boast an 18-point victory over the champion of the nation’s best conference? That doesn’t count as a data point?

The same Ole Miss that has a win against the No. 2 team and a 24-point victory over the No. 14 team (South Carolina)? And has suffered three close losses, two of which came from desperate fourth-down attempts by Kentucky and LSU?

In contrast, they have a record of 11 wins against teams where every opponent has at least five losses.

This can’t be what we’ve come to expect from the new 12-team CFP.

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti’s argument for the CFP: We’re a good team, really!

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin’s argument for the CFP: We defeated the team that won the SEC by 18 points.

I don’t want to be the one to keep asking this, but what is Indiana even doing in the CFP? If we take Manuel’s words at face value – and I’m still not sure he didn’t mistakenly say this on live TV (it’s an easy slip) – then it seems there is no change in rankings for teams not in action this weekend.

Consequently, Indiana — with no wins against the CFP’s top 25 and one significant loss (by 23 points) to Ohio State — is included in the tournament. If we’re starting to give out CFP slots to teams with only one loss, why not consider Army?

The Black Knights are winning by an average of 17 points per game, their only shortcoming being a heavy defeat to No. 4 Notre Dame. Yet, this seems irrelevant to the committee, as Army competes in the American Athletic Conference, thus facing a considerably lighter schedule than Indiana.

Which is reminiscent of Indiana’s comparatively easier schedule than Ole Miss.

These 12 playoff spots are invaluable and should be reserved for those who truly earn them, not distributed based on a flawed notion that fewer losses outweigh significant victories. What message are we sending by allowing Indiana into the CFP?

Are we promoting the idea that teams with a fortunate, less challenging schedule get a free pass to the CFP? That’s absurd.

I don’t fault Indiana; my frustration lies with the selection committee. If the 13 members responsible for choosing the 12-team playoff can’t recognize that Indiana’s comparatively easy schedule is the *main factor* in its record of 11 wins, we have serious issues within this system.

Indiana’s story is compelling, much like it was in 2020. Back then, the Hoosiers missed a spot in the Big Ten Championship when the conference changed its return-to-play protocols to insert Ohio State into the big game.

Ohio State went on to win the Big Ten, defeat Clemson in the playoff semifinals, and face Alabama in the national championship game. Meanwhile, Indiana lost to a 5-5 Ole Miss in the Outback Bowl.

Are we really doing this? Are we truly rewarding a team solely for winning against inferior opponents?

Instead of honoring a team that has triumphed against high-caliber rivals?

This cannot be the standard we uphold with the 12-team CFP.