Paul Finebaum rips College Football Playoff committee after first-round blowouts: 'Take a bow'

Blowouts were a common theme through the first two College Football Playoff games. Notre Dame took a commanding lead into the final minutes against Indiana on Friday, and Penn State went up 28-0 in the first half against SMU on Saturday.

SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum weighed in amid Penn State’s dominating performance. He ripped the CFP committee for the “blockbuster” opening games.

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SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings threw three interceptions in the first half, including two pick-sixes as Penn State took full control. On offense, the Nittany Lions totaled 216 yards after a sluggish start. Those stats were part of the reason Finebaum told the committee to “take a bow” for setting up the games.

So far, the CFP selection committee has given us some blockbusters. Notre Dame led late over Indiana 27-3 and Penn State just went up on the committee’s final team 28-0 at the half. Take a bow.

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) December 21, 2024

“So far, the CFP selection committee has given us some blockbusters,” Finebaum wrote on X. “Notre Dame led late over Indiana 27-3 and Penn State just went up on the committee’s final team 28-0 at the half. Take a bow.”

The conversation about SMU and Indiana’s entry into the CFP generated plenty of buzz. Alabama fell out of the final rankings after the Mustangs fell to Clemson in a close ACC Championship, and Indiana’s strength of schedule was a major point of discussion throughout the year.

Indiana’s regular-season slate ranked No. 67 in the country, according to ESPN’s FPI, which was the second-weakest of the 12-team bracket. Only Boise State had an easier schedule at No. 80. SMU, meanwhile, entered Saturday with the No. 60-ranked strength of schedule following IU’s game against Notre Dame.

That led to a conversation about whether IU and SMU deserved to be in over some three-loss SEC teams. Ole Miss, Alabama and South Carolina were among the first teams out of the field despite having higher strength of schedule – ranking No. 33, 18 and 13, respectively, as of Friday night, according to ESPN.

Although IU lost 27-17, the reaction was swift after Notre Dame extended its lead to 27-3 at one point. One of the most vocal figures was Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, who called out the College Football Playoff committee as the game entered the final minutes and did so again on Saturday amid Penn State’s 28-0 performance against SMU.

“Really exciting competitive game @CFBPlayoff,” Kiffin said, along with a thinking emoji with a monocle. “Great job!!”