Joey McGuire on Playoff Format: “Stop Handing Bids to Conferences—Earn It”

“We’ve got to take some of the bias out of conferences — that, ‘This is a tougher conference because of this and this and this.’ Let’s fight it out on the field. I’m all for that. If we win the Big 12, then we should be in the playoffs,” he said.

McGuire supports a playoff model that rewards conference champions with automatic bids, regardless of conference affiliation.

He believes that the focus should be on determining the best teams in the country based on their performance, not their conference membership. “If you’re a conference champion, you should be in,” McGuire asserted.

The debate over the CFP format has intensified as the SEC and Big Ten push for greater representation in the playoff. However, McGuire’s stance resonates with those who advocate for a more equitable system that values merit over conference prestige.

By emphasizing on-field results, McGuire champions a playoff structure that upholds the competitive integrity of college football.

As discussions continue, McGuire’s perspective adds a critical voice to the conversation, advocating for a playoff system that truly reflects the best teams in the nation, determined by their achievements on the field rather than their conference affiliations.