What the top teams are doing in their place after being excluded from the College Football Playoffs

What the Top Teams Are Doing in Their Place After Being Excluded from the College Football Playoffs

As college football continues to evolve and the competition for a spot in the College Football Playoff (CFP) becomes increasingly intense, many top teams each year find themselves left on the outside looking in. After a long season of hard-fought games, impressive victories, and sometimes heartbreaking losses, the exclusion from the College Football Playoff is an outcome no team desires. However, for teams that fall just short of the four-team playoff, the season is far from over. Instead of resting on their laurels, these teams often channel their disappointment into productive actions, focusing on various goals ranging from bowl game preparation to player development, recruiting, and making the necessary adjustments for the following year.

In this article, we will explore the strategies and initiatives that the top teams excluded from the CFP are employing to make the most of their situation, preparing for future success while wrapping up their season in the best possible way.

1. Focusing on Bowl Games: The First Goal After Exclusion

For any team excluded from the CFP, a primary focus shifts to preparation for a bowl game. Bowl games, while not the ultimate goal of competing for a national championship, are still a significant part of college football’s postseason. These games provide an opportunity to finish the season on a high note, secure a quality win, and gain momentum heading into the offseason.

Exclusion from the College Football Playoff often means that the team will participate in one of the top-tier New Year’s Six bowls or a prestigious non-playoff bowl game. While it can be disappointing for players and fans, the players’ experience in these games remains an invaluable one. Teams excluded from the CFP will often have weeks to prepare for the bowl, giving coaches ample time to work on tactical improvements, evaluate young talent, and provide crucial game experience for underclassmen.

1.1. Bowl Game Preparation

One of the first steps for teams in this position is to prepare for the bowl game. Coaches focus on reviewing game film, identifying areas of weakness, and refining strategies. It’s also an opportunity to make final evaluations of the team’s depth chart and assess younger players who might not have had much playing time during the regular season.

For teams that are facing high-level opponents in bowl games, such as those in New Year’s Six bowls, coaches focus on developing a game plan tailored to exploit weaknesses in the opposing team’s scheme. At the same time, there’s a lot of attention paid to motivation—getting players mentally prepared for a game that, while important, may feel less significant than a playoff game. Leaders within the locker room, whether senior players or team captains, are expected to keep the focus sharp and ensure that the team doesn’t fall into the trap of “disappointment.”

1.2. Player Development

Bowl games are also an opportunity to develop players who have not had as much playing time throughout the season. This is especially important for programs with talented underclassmen who could play a pivotal role in the future. Coaches often use bowl practices as a chance to assess these young players in game-like scenarios, helping them prepare for larger roles in the following season.

Teams may also use the bowl game as a means of improving position battles, where different players at the same position will compete for starting spots in the upcoming season. This level of preparation can help build depth for the program moving forward, ensuring that the team is not reliant on a handful of players for the next season.

2. Refining Recruiting Efforts: Building the Future

For many programs excluded from the College Football Playoff, recruiting becomes a crucial focal point in the days following the exclusion. The recruiting process is one of the most important aspects of a college football team’s long-term success, and even though a team may not have the playoff appearance to entice recruits, there are still numerous opportunities to make a significant impact.

2.1. Emphasizing the Positive Aspects of the Program

While the College Football Playoff is an aspirational goal for most teams, many top programs excluded from the CFP still have much to offer recruits. Coaches work diligently to highlight the positives of the program, such as the development of players, the quality of education, and the culture of the team. They also emphasize the fact that teams can still have tremendous success even without being in the playoff race, by competing in a prestigious bowl game and securing important victories against quality opponents.

The absence from the College Football Playoff may give teams the opportunity to more effectively focus on their target recruits, offering them personalized attention and providing them with specific reasons why their program is the right choice. High-profile bowl games, for instance, are often an opportunity for teams to showcase their strengths on national television, and that can be a crucial selling point to recruits.

2.2. Solidifying Early Commitments

Many top teams are also looking to solidify their early commitments with recruits during the recruiting cycle. Teams with impressive seasons, even without a playoff appearance, will still attract top-tier talent. As soon as a team is excluded from the playoff, there is often a rush to lock down commitments from top prospects, and recruiting staffs work tirelessly to ensure that players who are leaning toward a program stay on board.

Recruiting efforts intensify as National Signing Day approaches, and for teams excluded from the playoff, the spotlight is still on them to prove their program’s future success. With a strong recruiting class, the team can continue its pursuit of the CFP in future years, using the season’s performance as a stepping stone for the next phase of their development.

3. Evaluating the Coaching Staff: Looking for Improvement

Another key aspect for programs excluded from the College Football Playoff is evaluating the coaching staff and making adjustments if necessary. While some teams may be pleased with their coaches’ performance and continue to build on their success, others may see areas where improvements are needed. This may lead to changes within the coaching staff, such as a new coordinator, position coach, or even a shake-up in overall team leadership.

3.1. Focusing on Offensive and Defensive Adjustments

For teams excluded from the playoffs due to inconsistent performance, there is often a reevaluation of their schemes. For example, teams with high-scoring offenses but questionable defenses may look to bring in new defensive minds to strengthen that area. Conversely, teams that were strong on defense but struggled offensively may hire a new offensive coordinator to revamp the offensive system.

Staff changes are often a part of the “reset” for teams that were close but not quite able to break into the College Football Playoff. These changes, made either immediately after the season or during the offseason, are crucial to ensuring that the team improves and positions itself to make a stronger push the following season.

4. Reflecting on the Season and Making Adjustments for Next Year

For teams excluded from the CFP, there’s a great deal of reflection and introspection once the season is over. Coaches and players often take the time to review what went well and what went wrong, identifying areas where improvements are needed in order to better position the team for playoff contention in future seasons.

4.1. Reviewing Key Games and Moments

A team’s exclusion from the CFP is often the result of a few key losses or disappointing moments during the season. After the season concludes, players and coaching staff evaluate these pivotal games and analyze what went wrong. For example, some teams may have faltered against inferior opponents, or lost close games due to turnovers or missed opportunities. Understanding the nuances of these games is key to ensuring that they do not happen again the following season.

4.2. Adjusting Team Goals and Building Toward the Next Season

A huge part of the offseason for teams excluded from the CFP is setting new goals and improving on weaknesses. Teams take the lessons learned from their season, use them as motivation for the offseason, and focus on their aspirations for the next year. Whether it’s building chemistry, improving strength and conditioning, or simply executing better during games, this period of adjustment and growth is essential for teams that are determined to make the next College Football Playoff.

5. Creating Motivation and Renewed Determination

Finally, the exclusion from the College Football Playoff often provides motivation and fuel for players and coaches heading into the offseason. For many players, the desire to make the playoff the following season becomes a driving force, and teams often use the bitterness of exclusion as a motivator during offseason training. Coaches push their players to become better and more focused, setting the foundation for a renewed effort to reach the College Football Playoff the following year.

For programs that were on the bubble, the exclusion serves as a reminder of the fine margins that separate teams from greatness. This frustration can galvanize players and coaches alike, leading to a stronger work ethic and a more disciplined approach in future seasons.