On the December 6 episode of ESPN’s First Take, Cam Newton sparked controversy by dismissing SMU, Arizona State, Indiana, and Boise State as undeserving of a spot in the College Football Playoff, arguing that these programs are out of their league.
“Understand your weight class,” Newton stated (via AL.com). “A lot of people are thinking it, and I’m gonna say it. No one wants to see SMU. No one wants to see Arizona State. No one wants to see Indiana. No one wants to see Boise State.
“I think we really need to consider teams’ strength of schedule when talking about the national championship. Have you really earned the right to say you belong, playing the talent you’ve faced? And no, Boise, without it being [Ashton] Jeanty, I don’t want to see Boise State. And if Boise State were to play Georgia, would Jeanty even make an impact?”
Newton’s comments come amid growing controversy over the expanded 12-team playoff format. With Boise State likely to earn an automatic bid over the Big 12 champion, and three-loss Alabama securing the final spot over two-loss Power 4 teams like Miami, the debate over strength of schedule and seeding has been contentious.
The imbalance of power in college football, dominated by the SEC and Big Ten, has fueled speculation that these conferences might eventually break away from the NCAA. Newton’s remarks on First Take underscore this hierarchy, reinforcing the perception that non-traditional powerhouses face an uphill battle for legitimacy in the sport.
