Updated (Fri 1/5 1730 UTC):
Cliff Notes version (spoiler heavy):
The Narrative version (very long, hastily written "article"):
Setup Part 1: The 1st 12 Hours - UCF Jokers
Despite UCF leading Auburn at half-time, the entire ESPN half-time show talked the CFP Semi-Final. Not even a recap of the first half. This continued post-game, with no coverage, with ESPN and others doing little to mention much of UCF's win or perfect season. The few that gave UCF some time were Scott Van Pelt. But most analysts were downplaying UCF, or getting their facts wrong (once again).
By then, in the late hours and early morning, the social media buzz really kicked in. It was everything from Milton's "cancel the playoffs" soundbite to Frost's "conscious effort" to Danny White's mouthing on TV saying, "national champs." In the absence of a lot of mainstream coverage, social media 'woke up' quickly.
Setup Part 2: The 2nd 12 Hours - CFP Disappointment
But the mainstream media had published articles for the new day, and UCF suddenly got massive coverage in beating Auburn ... especially with both Semi-Finals not being particularly well-liked, and over-hyped. Danny White got around to announcing a Peach Bowl Champions parade would happen, possibly Saturday, and he was moving heaven'n earth to do what he could.
It wasn't "national champs" ... yet.
Then the CFP and P5 started weighing in. It was everyone downplaying the UCF win ... sans Auburn and a few others. Then more P5 fans joined the G5 in supporting UCF's validity in the win. And the questions of social media met mainstream media, and now those comments started to fly ... from major outlets. "Ohio State, USC and UCF are why need an 8 team playoff!"
Instigator: Day After Backhanded Comments by CFP and P5
The CFP didn't like a lot of the media's attitude, that their system was flawed.
The CFP head honcho started defending their system, as well as some P5 commissioners. 4 teams were fine, even from the PAC-12, who was left out. They knew that if the playoff went to 8 teams, it could mean a strong argument for an auto-include of a G5 -- 5x P5 champs, 1x G5 champ, 2 at-large ... covering at least Alabama. It was the best year to make the case.
But in the process, the CFP found a way to involve the one school and the one man they shouldn't.
They defended not only leaving UCF out of the top 4, but even defended UCF's #12 ranking. It was an insinuation that UCF didn't even belong in the top 8, so wouldn't even make an 8 team playoff, without directly saying it ... for obvious, legal reasons. They went further, saying that they respected UCF by including them in the Peach Bowl -- even thought hose were contractual requirements.
It was the "Children of the Poor" attitude of TCU years early all over again ...
'We gave UCF a game and the AAC $6M ... go away, you're not getting any more.'
The timing will always be debated, but it wasn't long before UCF President Dr. Hitt suddenly made it known he would support "a" -- and the key aspect here, with White constantly repeats -- is "a national championship" claim. That was a very bold move by a state employee and major leader of an university. And now, the parade was no longer 'The Peach Bowl Champion,' but 'A National Champion' parade.
And one that would immediately have an actual, legal impact.
Liabilities: UCF Agreed to a Contract with the CFP
The contract isn't one way, and UCF -- and its conference, the AAC -- doesn't get $6M without agreeing to terms. The CFP, a LLC like the BCS before it, owned by some of the same parties, an heavily integrated into ESPN's ownership of not just bowl broadcasting rights, but some of the bowls themselves, a set of legal, non-profit corporations with for-profit entities heavily involved.
UCF could be found in violation of its contract. Not only that, most of the $6M UCF receives for the Peach Bowl is shared with its conference, the AAC. That quickly became apparent as Miake Aresco, the commissioner of the AAC, was very silent. At stake was the largest payoff of the season for the conference, a total that would likely be as much as the sum of all others.
Over the next 24 hours, as White -- with Dr. Hitt's full support -- worked Disney, the city of Orlando, and countless media and other entities, asserted UCF's "A National Champion" claim, Aresco supported the CFP. Aresco had to represent the conference's interests, not UCF's, especially fiscally. After all, it was going to be a lot more 'take home pay' from the Peaches, than UCF's!
At first glance, this seems to be a mistake by UCF, or at least dangerous.
Litigation: Utah, TCU and the US DoJ
Utah, the undefeated MWC champion of 2008, went undefeated and beat #4 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl in 2009 (2008 season) by 14 points. Afterwards, a state anti-trust lawsuit was filed by the State of Utah Attorney General.
TCU, the undefeated MWC champion of 2010, went undefeated and edged out #4 Wisconsin, in the Rose Bowl.
The US DoJ eventually crafted a letter to the corporation of the BCS in 2010, notifying the corporation of possible, federal anti-trust violations. It most specifically asked the corporation to "explain itself" about why a playoff could not be used, such as the one in the FCS, formerly Division I AA (I-AA), instead of a single, bowl game.
By this time, both Utah and TCU received P5 invites. TCU is in Texas, the 2nd most populous state with a lot of power. Utah is the Mormon state, with a lot of public servants. Both began play in the PAC-12 and Big XII, in 2011 and 2012, respectively. The state of Utah dropped its lawsuit on the P5 invite, and the US DoJ did not send further letters once the four (4) team CFP was announced.
Threatening litigation had proven to be one tactic to get a P5 invite. But could there be another?
Taunting: UCF Isn't Just Trolling the CFP/P5, But Taking a Calculated Risk
White is extremely careful when he speaks to the media.
He uses "a" in his "national champion" claim. He is respectful to Alabama and Georgia, and say their players deserve all their credit, just like UCF's. And most of all, he deflects the media when they ask if UCF could beat either Alabama or Georgia, saying it's unfair to ask UCF and its players, when they don't ask Alabama, Georgia or their players the same question of UCF.
White is asserting nothing than an age-old, college tradition ... including some in the BCS-era, but definitely what was awarded before it. Not just multiple, national champions ... but claiming national championships. So, it is allowed under UCF's, the AAC's and other contracts? Possibly those with the ESPN media rights too, beyond the CFP and the Peach Bowl Invite?
Some would view this as a slippery slope ... but possibly purposeful ... which we'll get to in a bit.
The CFP, and even the BCS before it, had contractual terms to some of the programs, as well as the AP and others, on what they could and couldn't do. But there were exceptions ...
Human-only: The CFP is completely human, by the people who control everything
One of the exceptions the AP had was that they could vote independently of both the BCS computers, and even the BCS game results, including the Championship itself. TCU even received three (3) AP first place results in 2010, even though it wasn't in the BCS NC, and ended up #2.
This was in addition to the BCS being split averages between the computers and the "human" AP (among others).
But in the CFP era, there are no computers any more. It's all human, 100%. And it's the fact that it's no longer 3rd parties in the media and elsewhere ... it's the people who answer to the P5 system. UCF was rated #12 by the CFP, and was #18 for the longest time, before #14, and barely above a 4-loss team at #13 in end.
The AP had UCF #10, and much higher.
The AP also had 3 of UCF's games against top 25, while the CFP only had 1.
The CFP was not only ranking UCF worse than the AP, but the computers.
The BCS Computers averaged UCF #3 ... which meant it was #7 BCS = #3 computer avg + #10 AP
Not only was the "computer v. human" balance that took several times to 'get right' gone from the BCS, but the CFP was totally human, with a massive, exposed, undeniable bias ... because it was not 'controlled' by humans, for the P5 system of exclusion. And the comments from P5 commissioners only made it worse, as Vegas started to take issues with their assessments of UCF.
I've yet to see a single media personality who disagreed with Scott Frost about not wanting to rank UCF higher, in case yet more teams loss ... and did they! The 2017 season was the 'perfect storm' for the P5, and an AAC team provided an undefeated team ... only now there was more than 1 game of #1 and #2, unlike in the BCS era of TCU and Utah.
And that's what Dr. Hitt and White are challenging ... but not just with marketing.
Strategy: Get the CFP to initiate litigation against UCF, and they lose the war on multiple fronts
UCF is not seeking a lawsuit. It's not looking to get the Florida AG involved. UCF is having a parade with its claimed "a national championship", and trying to get the state of Florida to declare UCF "a national champion," state-wide. UPDATE: The city of Orlando has now done so.
The CFP could do anything from withhold payouts, to cite breach-of-contract in UCFAA, Inc. not recognizing the winner of the CFP final to directly suing, possibly via arbitration (that is never seen publicly) .. to start, maybe to recoup the $6M for the Peach Bowl, or even push the AAC to 'control' UCF, since they get a lot of that money to (among other funds). After all, UCFAA, Inc. is a non-profit, private corporation, and the only public employees of the state of Florida are UCF President Dr. Hitt and AD Danny White. Again, if they initiate litigation, even just arbitration, against UCFAA, they might get the AAC to support them ... as they have a bigger financial stake than UCF.
But this would like backfire ... far, far worse ...
One ... the CFP would be in the serious pickle of having to still allow UCF to play in bowl games in the next season ... all while suing them over breach of contract. To prevent UCF to qualify for a bowl game -- even justified with "breach of contract" (so you cannot get another) -- would immediate bring in both the state AG of Florida and, worse yet, the US DoJ over anti-trust.
Because the only way to the bowls is through the various, non-profit bowl corporations, and several corporations ... including the major bowls they control.
That's a monopoly, and subject to all sorts of criminal laws on anti-trust ... and they would be in an extremely poor position if they were seen as "trying to block while suing UCF," far, far worse than what the state AG of Utah and letters of the US DoJ did independently. The lawsuit would no longer be "private party" civil ... but possibly criminal.
UCF could possible even play without a full contract! And that would really make things really bad for them ... can't leave them out, but can't force them to sign a full contract ... more of a MOU or similar, but often "hard-to-enforce," terms, unless another contract is eventually signed later.
Two ... it would drag in ESPN, as UCF would subpoena and provide evidence that ESPN provided false advertising, on behalf of not only the CFP corporation, but ESPN's own investments into bowls.
Because, until mid-November when more and more unbeaten P5 teams fell ... ESPN ran a 'claymation' advertisement with a G5 school fan saying "all 130 teams." That advertisement was taken away very quickly, even before UCF was the only unbeaten left. Now you have collusion and a host of other, potential, also criminal, federal investigations that would begin too.
The CFP knows this, and it's likely why they haven't made any moves against UCF ... other than to leverage AAC commissioner Aresco, and possibly other AAC teams who will lose that revenue.
End Game: Either Change the System ... or Get a P5 Invite ... Possibly Both?
UCF claims it wants to change the system. That UCF should have been in an 8 team playoff, let's move to that, and settle it on the field. White on TV making that case, and until it happens, the "A National Champion of 2017" banner will fly at UCF, long after the parades.
The CFP wants UCF's conference to fight them on this. Because it's not going to end up pretty for them, whether they got to litigation ... or even not. At some point, they are seriously looking at possibly having to add UCF to the Big XII, or inviting another US DoJ federal letter about Anti-Trust Violations. Just like before.
We have the 4-team CFP largely because of the US DoJ, even though both Utah and TCU got P5 invites. So it's not likely going to end if an UCF P5 invite happens, there will be the question about 8 team playoffs ... and a top G5 auto-bid, if they cannot objectively include a G5 in the top 8.
That's why the CFP wants nothing to do with 8-teams. It invites that argument. It invites the feds, in addition to state AGs. Every P5 commissioner wants to hear the end of it. Yet, UCF has managed to get the argument to dominate the airwaves ... trolling people to hear White, then White sounding very logical.
Complementing Alabama and Georgia, refusing to say UCF is better, wanting to share the championship title ... and asking the question, "How the heck does any G5 get in the top 8, much less 4?"
Florida is the 3rd most populous state with a lot of power. It's young legislature is often filled with UCF grads, sometimes the most -- like back in 2011 with, now defunct Big East invite as they turned public servant and USF President Genshaft to represent the taxpayer, not her school loyalties.
The "UCF question of a P5 invite" is not going away, not any time soon
Not with 2 major bowl wins in 5 seasons, and more victories against top 10 in the same duration than the supermajority of P5 programs. UCF's résumé 2013-2017, since the creation of the AAC from the ashes of the Big East, often overlooked because of the 2015 season, but it's still one of the best in the county ... a top 5, with only a handful of other P5 programs that can say similarly to what it's done.
ESPN revenue is down, and the Big XII not expanding because of no more money to add 1-2 more teams, which likely means they won't be suing UCF ... or they might be taking UCF as a result, well before another 5-6 years of TV deals expire.
So the other question, "An 8 team playoff" is still there too
The AAC or MWC need to keep making the argument ... although it has to be undefeated too. That's a very tall order, as Scott Frost pointed out, no matter what the conference. It's only now happened once in the CFP era, and didn't much in the BCS either.
After all, lot of P5 programs in the top 10 right now lost to teams that aren't even top 50, and have lost to AAC programs too.
- I think I have most the typos now (I literally didn't proofread it at all prior)
- I also added another block to the summary about Utah/TCU related litigations (it's always been in the main article)
Cliff Notes version (spoiler heavy):
- The initial Frost, Milton and White comments were criticisms ... and jokes
- After ESPN snubbed any UCF coverage, social and mainstream media lit up
- Within a day, the "This is why we need an 8 team playoff" argument began
- As a result, the CFP head insulted UCF, defending #12
- The CFP insinuated UCF would not be in for even an 8 team
- UCF was higher ranked AP, let alone BCS computers, and would be in the top 8
- The new CFP uses only human, and instead of 3rd party, represents the P5, unlike the AP/others
- UCF President Dr. Hitt backed "a national champion" as a result, a direct challenge, purposely, no longer jokes or trolling
- UCF is the first team in the new, CFP era to officially call itself a national champion
- The CFP could withhold $6M over breach of contract, and that's just for starters
- Most of that money is shared with the AAC's, not UCF's
- This is why AAC commissioner Aresco is supporting the CFP, not UCF
- This wouldn't be the first ligitation to happen
- After Utah 2008, the Utah state AG sued the BCS corporation
- Utah was invited to the PAC-12 shortly after, starting play in 2011
- The lawsuit was dropped by the Utah state AG after the invite
- After TCU 2010, the US DoJ sent an "Anti-Trust Letter" asking the BCS corporation to explain why they don't use a playoff
- TCU was invited to the Big XII shortly after, starting play in 2012
- The BCS corporation morphed into the CFP, and the US DoJ sent no further letters
- After Utah 2008, the Utah state AG sued the BCS corporation
- If the CFP withhold payouts, cites breach-of-contract or even sues, it could backfire far, far worse ...
- The CFP would still have to let UCF be in bowls going forward
- The CFP would get killed with criminal anti-trust, if they blacklisted UCF
- It may possibly be without a full contract (even a MOU) with UCF (dangerous for them)!
- The CFP would also find ESPN dragged in on the "all 130 teams" false advertising
- And the CFP would get invite greater scrutiny by the feds over 8-team arguments, and that's probably already in-motion
- The CFP would still have to let UCF be in bowls going forward
- This is likely a ploy to get UCF into a P5 conference
- Don't have the university or state AG sue ... but get them to sue you (and settle)
- With ESPN revenues down, the Big XII refused to expand prior
- It's still going to invite massive scrutiny from the US DoJ
- An 8-team playoff may happen eventually any way
The Narrative version (very long, hastily written "article"):
Setup Part 1: The 1st 12 Hours - UCF Jokers
Despite UCF leading Auburn at half-time, the entire ESPN half-time show talked the CFP Semi-Final. Not even a recap of the first half. This continued post-game, with no coverage, with ESPN and others doing little to mention much of UCF's win or perfect season. The few that gave UCF some time were Scott Van Pelt. But most analysts were downplaying UCF, or getting their facts wrong (once again).
By then, in the late hours and early morning, the social media buzz really kicked in. It was everything from Milton's "cancel the playoffs" soundbite to Frost's "conscious effort" to Danny White's mouthing on TV saying, "national champs." In the absence of a lot of mainstream coverage, social media 'woke up' quickly.
Setup Part 2: The 2nd 12 Hours - CFP Disappointment
But the mainstream media had published articles for the new day, and UCF suddenly got massive coverage in beating Auburn ... especially with both Semi-Finals not being particularly well-liked, and over-hyped. Danny White got around to announcing a Peach Bowl Champions parade would happen, possibly Saturday, and he was moving heaven'n earth to do what he could.
It wasn't "national champs" ... yet.
Then the CFP and P5 started weighing in. It was everyone downplaying the UCF win ... sans Auburn and a few others. Then more P5 fans joined the G5 in supporting UCF's validity in the win. And the questions of social media met mainstream media, and now those comments started to fly ... from major outlets. "Ohio State, USC and UCF are why need an 8 team playoff!"
Instigator: Day After Backhanded Comments by CFP and P5
The CFP didn't like a lot of the media's attitude, that their system was flawed.
The CFP head honcho started defending their system, as well as some P5 commissioners. 4 teams were fine, even from the PAC-12, who was left out. They knew that if the playoff went to 8 teams, it could mean a strong argument for an auto-include of a G5 -- 5x P5 champs, 1x G5 champ, 2 at-large ... covering at least Alabama. It was the best year to make the case.
But in the process, the CFP found a way to involve the one school and the one man they shouldn't.
They defended not only leaving UCF out of the top 4, but even defended UCF's #12 ranking. It was an insinuation that UCF didn't even belong in the top 8, so wouldn't even make an 8 team playoff, without directly saying it ... for obvious, legal reasons. They went further, saying that they respected UCF by including them in the Peach Bowl -- even thought hose were contractual requirements.
It was the "Children of the Poor" attitude of TCU years early all over again ...
'We gave UCF a game and the AAC $6M ... go away, you're not getting any more.'
The timing will always be debated, but it wasn't long before UCF President Dr. Hitt suddenly made it known he would support "a" -- and the key aspect here, with White constantly repeats -- is "a national championship" claim. That was a very bold move by a state employee and major leader of an university. And now, the parade was no longer 'The Peach Bowl Champion,' but 'A National Champion' parade.
And one that would immediately have an actual, legal impact.
Liabilities: UCF Agreed to a Contract with the CFP
The contract isn't one way, and UCF -- and its conference, the AAC -- doesn't get $6M without agreeing to terms. The CFP, a LLC like the BCS before it, owned by some of the same parties, an heavily integrated into ESPN's ownership of not just bowl broadcasting rights, but some of the bowls themselves, a set of legal, non-profit corporations with for-profit entities heavily involved.
UCF could be found in violation of its contract. Not only that, most of the $6M UCF receives for the Peach Bowl is shared with its conference, the AAC. That quickly became apparent as Miake Aresco, the commissioner of the AAC, was very silent. At stake was the largest payoff of the season for the conference, a total that would likely be as much as the sum of all others.
Over the next 24 hours, as White -- with Dr. Hitt's full support -- worked Disney, the city of Orlando, and countless media and other entities, asserted UCF's "A National Champion" claim, Aresco supported the CFP. Aresco had to represent the conference's interests, not UCF's, especially fiscally. After all, it was going to be a lot more 'take home pay' from the Peaches, than UCF's!
At first glance, this seems to be a mistake by UCF, or at least dangerous.
Litigation: Utah, TCU and the US DoJ
Utah, the undefeated MWC champion of 2008, went undefeated and beat #4 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl in 2009 (2008 season) by 14 points. Afterwards, a state anti-trust lawsuit was filed by the State of Utah Attorney General.
TCU, the undefeated MWC champion of 2010, went undefeated and edged out #4 Wisconsin, in the Rose Bowl.
The US DoJ eventually crafted a letter to the corporation of the BCS in 2010, notifying the corporation of possible, federal anti-trust violations. It most specifically asked the corporation to "explain itself" about why a playoff could not be used, such as the one in the FCS, formerly Division I AA (I-AA), instead of a single, bowl game.
By this time, both Utah and TCU received P5 invites. TCU is in Texas, the 2nd most populous state with a lot of power. Utah is the Mormon state, with a lot of public servants. Both began play in the PAC-12 and Big XII, in 2011 and 2012, respectively. The state of Utah dropped its lawsuit on the P5 invite, and the US DoJ did not send further letters once the four (4) team CFP was announced.
Threatening litigation had proven to be one tactic to get a P5 invite. But could there be another?
Taunting: UCF Isn't Just Trolling the CFP/P5, But Taking a Calculated Risk
White is extremely careful when he speaks to the media.
He uses "a" in his "national champion" claim. He is respectful to Alabama and Georgia, and say their players deserve all their credit, just like UCF's. And most of all, he deflects the media when they ask if UCF could beat either Alabama or Georgia, saying it's unfair to ask UCF and its players, when they don't ask Alabama, Georgia or their players the same question of UCF.
White is asserting nothing than an age-old, college tradition ... including some in the BCS-era, but definitely what was awarded before it. Not just multiple, national champions ... but claiming national championships. So, it is allowed under UCF's, the AAC's and other contracts? Possibly those with the ESPN media rights too, beyond the CFP and the Peach Bowl Invite?
Some would view this as a slippery slope ... but possibly purposeful ... which we'll get to in a bit.
The CFP, and even the BCS before it, had contractual terms to some of the programs, as well as the AP and others, on what they could and couldn't do. But there were exceptions ...
Human-only: The CFP is completely human, by the people who control everything
One of the exceptions the AP had was that they could vote independently of both the BCS computers, and even the BCS game results, including the Championship itself. TCU even received three (3) AP first place results in 2010, even though it wasn't in the BCS NC, and ended up #2.
This was in addition to the BCS being split averages between the computers and the "human" AP (among others).
But in the CFP era, there are no computers any more. It's all human, 100%. And it's the fact that it's no longer 3rd parties in the media and elsewhere ... it's the people who answer to the P5 system. UCF was rated #12 by the CFP, and was #18 for the longest time, before #14, and barely above a 4-loss team at #13 in end.
The AP had UCF #10, and much higher.
The AP also had 3 of UCF's games against top 25, while the CFP only had 1.
The CFP was not only ranking UCF worse than the AP, but the computers.
The BCS Computers averaged UCF #3 ... which meant it was #7 BCS = #3 computer avg + #10 AP
Not only was the "computer v. human" balance that took several times to 'get right' gone from the BCS, but the CFP was totally human, with a massive, exposed, undeniable bias ... because it was not 'controlled' by humans, for the P5 system of exclusion. And the comments from P5 commissioners only made it worse, as Vegas started to take issues with their assessments of UCF.
I've yet to see a single media personality who disagreed with Scott Frost about not wanting to rank UCF higher, in case yet more teams loss ... and did they! The 2017 season was the 'perfect storm' for the P5, and an AAC team provided an undefeated team ... only now there was more than 1 game of #1 and #2, unlike in the BCS era of TCU and Utah.
And that's what Dr. Hitt and White are challenging ... but not just with marketing.
Strategy: Get the CFP to initiate litigation against UCF, and they lose the war on multiple fronts
UCF is not seeking a lawsuit. It's not looking to get the Florida AG involved. UCF is having a parade with its claimed "a national championship", and trying to get the state of Florida to declare UCF "a national champion," state-wide. UPDATE: The city of Orlando has now done so.
The CFP could do anything from withhold payouts, to cite breach-of-contract in UCFAA, Inc. not recognizing the winner of the CFP final to directly suing, possibly via arbitration (that is never seen publicly) .. to start, maybe to recoup the $6M for the Peach Bowl, or even push the AAC to 'control' UCF, since they get a lot of that money to (among other funds). After all, UCFAA, Inc. is a non-profit, private corporation, and the only public employees of the state of Florida are UCF President Dr. Hitt and AD Danny White. Again, if they initiate litigation, even just arbitration, against UCFAA, they might get the AAC to support them ... as they have a bigger financial stake than UCF.
But this would like backfire ... far, far worse ...
One ... the CFP would be in the serious pickle of having to still allow UCF to play in bowl games in the next season ... all while suing them over breach of contract. To prevent UCF to qualify for a bowl game -- even justified with "breach of contract" (so you cannot get another) -- would immediate bring in both the state AG of Florida and, worse yet, the US DoJ over anti-trust.
Because the only way to the bowls is through the various, non-profit bowl corporations, and several corporations ... including the major bowls they control.
That's a monopoly, and subject to all sorts of criminal laws on anti-trust ... and they would be in an extremely poor position if they were seen as "trying to block while suing UCF," far, far worse than what the state AG of Utah and letters of the US DoJ did independently. The lawsuit would no longer be "private party" civil ... but possibly criminal.
UCF could possible even play without a full contract! And that would really make things really bad for them ... can't leave them out, but can't force them to sign a full contract ... more of a MOU or similar, but often "hard-to-enforce," terms, unless another contract is eventually signed later.
Two ... it would drag in ESPN, as UCF would subpoena and provide evidence that ESPN provided false advertising, on behalf of not only the CFP corporation, but ESPN's own investments into bowls.
Because, until mid-November when more and more unbeaten P5 teams fell ... ESPN ran a 'claymation' advertisement with a G5 school fan saying "all 130 teams." That advertisement was taken away very quickly, even before UCF was the only unbeaten left. Now you have collusion and a host of other, potential, also criminal, federal investigations that would begin too.
The CFP knows this, and it's likely why they haven't made any moves against UCF ... other than to leverage AAC commissioner Aresco, and possibly other AAC teams who will lose that revenue.
End Game: Either Change the System ... or Get a P5 Invite ... Possibly Both?
UCF claims it wants to change the system. That UCF should have been in an 8 team playoff, let's move to that, and settle it on the field. White on TV making that case, and until it happens, the "A National Champion of 2017" banner will fly at UCF, long after the parades.
The CFP wants UCF's conference to fight them on this. Because it's not going to end up pretty for them, whether they got to litigation ... or even not. At some point, they are seriously looking at possibly having to add UCF to the Big XII, or inviting another US DoJ federal letter about Anti-Trust Violations. Just like before.
We have the 4-team CFP largely because of the US DoJ, even though both Utah and TCU got P5 invites. So it's not likely going to end if an UCF P5 invite happens, there will be the question about 8 team playoffs ... and a top G5 auto-bid, if they cannot objectively include a G5 in the top 8.
That's why the CFP wants nothing to do with 8-teams. It invites that argument. It invites the feds, in addition to state AGs. Every P5 commissioner wants to hear the end of it. Yet, UCF has managed to get the argument to dominate the airwaves ... trolling people to hear White, then White sounding very logical.
Complementing Alabama and Georgia, refusing to say UCF is better, wanting to share the championship title ... and asking the question, "How the heck does any G5 get in the top 8, much less 4?"
Florida is the 3rd most populous state with a lot of power. It's young legislature is often filled with UCF grads, sometimes the most -- like back in 2011 with, now defunct Big East invite as they turned public servant and USF President Genshaft to represent the taxpayer, not her school loyalties.
The "UCF question of a P5 invite" is not going away, not any time soon
Not with 2 major bowl wins in 5 seasons, and more victories against top 10 in the same duration than the supermajority of P5 programs. UCF's résumé 2013-2017, since the creation of the AAC from the ashes of the Big East, often overlooked because of the 2015 season, but it's still one of the best in the county ... a top 5, with only a handful of other P5 programs that can say similarly to what it's done.
ESPN revenue is down, and the Big XII not expanding because of no more money to add 1-2 more teams, which likely means they won't be suing UCF ... or they might be taking UCF as a result, well before another 5-6 years of TV deals expire.
So the other question, "An 8 team playoff" is still there too
The AAC or MWC need to keep making the argument ... although it has to be undefeated too. That's a very tall order, as Scott Frost pointed out, no matter what the conference. It's only now happened once in the CFP era, and didn't much in the BCS either.
After all, lot of P5 programs in the top 10 right now lost to teams that aren't even top 50, and have lost to AAC programs too.
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![[winking]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/wink.r191677.gif "Winking [winking]")
