Hey Martha, it is time for the 2022-2023 college football tournament selection show!

Welcome to the 2022-2023 College Football Tournament selection show, sponsored by Lou Malnotti's Pizza.  Now to the ESPN Studios, with Rece Davis, Mark May, and Lou Holtz.

RECE:  Welcome back to our College Football Tournament selection show, and welcome to our old friends Lou Holtz and Mark May.  Guys, we had championship weekend, but it was also a unique spoiler weekend, in that each of the Power Five conference championship games had an underdog that would only make the tournament if they won.  So no games where both teams would make it, no matter what the result.  Mark, what did that mean?

MARK: Rece, it meant that we basically had a set tournament before the weekend started, and if all the favorites had won, the tournament would have not changed.  But alas, Utah won the Pac-12, and Kansas State won the Big 12.  What that set into motion was nervousness among the four at-large teams that seemed poised to make the ten team field.  Those would be Ohio State, Alabama, Tennessee, and Penn State, probably in that order, with a maybe outside shot to Washington.  So with Kansas State and Utah playing there way in, it may mean that Tennessee and Penn State will be on the outside looking in.

LOU: That's right, it was a dandy of a weekend, I tell you.  LSU, Purdue, and North Carolina could not keep the chaos momentum going, but we have some big questions today.  I would say the only things that are set in this tournament are that Georgia will be #1, Michigan #2, and Tulane will be #10.  Everything else, the seedings, who gets in; it's all up in the air Rece, I tell you.

RECE: What we can say, for certain, Georgia, Michigan, Clemson, Kansas State, and Utah are definitely in, winning their conferences.  Tulane is pretty sure to be the representative champion from the Groups of Five conferences.  So that leaves four at-large spots, with TCU, Alabama, Ohio State, Tennessee, USC, Penn State, and Washington hoping, hoping, for an at-large birth.

MARK: The biggest wild card in this entire situation is USC.  They were a top five team last week.  Their great quarterback Caleb Williams was banged up in the Pac-12 conference game, and Utah pulled way.  I have seen USC still projected as top six seed, most predictions are that they will be a First Round game team with a #7 to #10 seed, but I have also seen them projected as out altogether.  A team like Tennessee is really hoping they can make it in above USC.

LOU: Also, seeing how far TCU drops will be interesting.  Oh, they will make the tournament, but will they fall below a team like Alabama?  TCU on fourth down in overtime yesterday, they really should have kicked the field goal on fourth down.  This is not a situation where if TCU does not make the touchdown, Kansas State has 99 yards to go; Kansas State gets the ball in field goal range.  If your TCU, kick the field goal, and tell your defense, boys, keep Kansas State out of the end zone.  That is all I ask.

RECE: And I think a lot of questioning of not letting TCU quarterback Max Duggan try to get the touchdown on those goal line situations.

LOU:  Oh yes, no doubt about that Rece!

RECE: So Mark, I think for the top six teams, it seems like five should be in: Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, and TCU.  Who will be sixth team in that group?

MARK: Guys, yesterday I would have Tennessee was out of the tournament with the K-State and Utah wins, however, now I think it will be USC completely out of the tournament, and the Volunteers will be in the top six. 

LOU: Mark, USC is making the tournament, they will be a First Round team, but Clemson will be in the top six.  Golly, they are a conference champion, with two losses.  A one-point loss in a rivalry game with South Carolina on the road and a loss at an improving Notre Dame team in South Bend.  And, you know, I know those two schools pretty well, I tell you.  But Clemson has to be above all these other two loss teams, and in the top six. No doubt about it.

RECE:  So coach, do you think the at-large teams will be Alabama, Ohio State, USC, and TCU?

LOU: That is what will happen, but I think Penn State deserves to be there more than some of those teams.  Look, Penn State lost to Ohio State and Michigan, two of the top four teams, maybe two of the top three teams.  Mark likes Tennessee, but hey, they lost to South Carolina 63-38, by golly.  No two loss team has the resume of Penn State, they really deserve to be there.   I think Mark is not on the bandwagon about Penn State being left out of the tournament, because he is a Pitt guy.  

MARK: Coach, I think it is going to be Ohio State, Alabama, TCU, and Tennessee as the four at-large teams, but I do think we saw an improvement in qualified teams this year.  Most recent seasons, Penn State and USC, even Washington, would have the resume to get in.  This year we have an abundance of quality teams.

LOU: No doubt Mark, what a great season it has been.  Golly, I want to see the brackets, I cannot wait.  

RECE: Coach, the waiting is over.  It is time to go to Brent Musburger on the field at SoFi Stadium in Southern California, where this year's championship game will be played. Brent?

BRENT:  You are looking...LIVE at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California, the site of this season's college football championship game.  Hi there everybody, ten teams will play to win here, and take home the BCS championship trophy. And now, it is time for the Portillo's bracket presentation.

Let's go to tournament Commissioner Nelson, who will reveal this year's tournament. Commissioner..."

COMMISIONER: Thank you Brent. It is my yearly pleasure to announce the teams that will be playing in the 2022-2023 BCS College Football Tournament.

In the First Round, in Kansas City, Missouri, the seventh seed, the Wildcats of Kansas State University, champions of the Big XII, will play the ninth seed, and champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Clemson University Tigers.

The other First Round game will be played in Provo, Utah, where the eighth seed and champion team of the Pac-12 Conference, the Utes of the University of Utah, will take on the tenth seeded Tulane Green Wave, champions of the American Athletic Conference.

So let's move onto the BCS Bowl quarterfinals. Either Utah or Tulane will move on to the Orange Bowl, to play the top seed and defending champion, the Bulldogs of the University of Georgia, champions of the Southeastern Conference. 

The winner of the Orange Bowl, will take on the winner of the Sugar Bowl, which will feature the fourth seed, at-large from the Big XII Conference, the Horned Frogs of the Texas Christian University, and fifth seeded at-large from Southeastern Conference, the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama.

Either Kansas State or Clemson will move on to the Rose Bowl, to play the number two seed, and champion of the Big Ten Conference, the Wolverines of the University of Michigan.

The Rose Bowl winner will take on the winner of the remaining quarterfinal game, the Cotton Bowl, which will feature the third seed, at-large from the Big Ten Conference, the Ohio State University Buckeyes, who will play the sixth seed, at-large from the Southeastern Conference, the Volunteers of the University of Tennessee.

The winners of the BCS quarterfinals will meet in Syracuse for Football's Final Four, and the winner of the semi-finals will play for the BCS championship, right here, in Southern California.

BRENT: Thank you Commissioner, it shapes up to be a very competitive tournament. So for the viewers who may be wondering, seventh seed Kansas State does not play tenth seed Tulane because they already played one another this season, correct?

COMMISH:  Exactly.  Our guidance is to avoid regular season rematches in First Round and Bowl game quarterfinals.  So Tulane will play Utah rather than play Kansas State again.

BRENT:  And I am sure Coach Holtz is dying to know how close USC and Penn State were to making the tournament.

COMMISH:  Actually, the race to the last spot was not that close, Tennessee was easily in.  We had two razor thin margins, Ohio State nudging out Texas Christian for the third seed, and Kansas State with a narrow margin for the seventh seed over Utah.  

BRENT:  Thank you Commissioner, it is going to be an amazing tournament.  And now back to Rece at the studio.

(microphones pick up unsuspecting continuing conversation)

BRENT: Good job Commissioner. You did fine.

COMMISH:  Thanks, I am really nervous that this alternative twelve team tournament is building momentum.

BRENT:  Now that you mention that, could I use you as a reference to see whether I can get a job at that tournament selection show?

COMMISH: I am still confident we will remain the sole tournament for college football. 

BRENT: Okay, but if I needed a reference?  

(back to the studio)

RECE:  So Coach, what do you think?

LOU: I cannot believe they placed Clemson as ninth seed.  Are you kidding me?  They are a two-loss conference champion, and they are below three loss Kansas State and Utah?  This is a real shame.  They should be in the top six.

MARK: Well, at least Clemson does not have to go to Provo and play in Georgia's bracket.  Because of Kansas State's previous game against Tulane, which they lost, at home, Clemson goes to Kansas City and a chance for a Rose Bowl game against Michigan.  Commissioner Nelson has always eyed a game in Kansas City, and now it finally comes to fruition.

RECE: Commissioner Nelson mentioned the two tight rankings, Ohio State nudging out TCU for #3 and Kansas State getting by Utah for #7.  Both of these have some big implications, right coach?

LOU: Oh boy, you better believe it.  Who do you want to play, Nick Saban and Alabama, a perennial power house, or Tennessee with a hurt quarterback out of action, and a team that has not been to the tournament for decades?  Ohio State gets the Volunteers, and TCU's loss yesterday resulted in a game against Alabama, that is one tough break for TCU.

MARK:  You are right coach, big implications there.  The other close race, Kansas State instead of Utah gets a path to the Rose Bowl, and Michigan instead of Georgia in the Orange Bowl.  That is huge.  I bet the Rose Bowl would have loved to have Utah to move on to face Michigan, but alas, not to be.  What a year for Utah.  A pre-season choice as a top four, top six team.  They start to accumulate some losses, but Oregon loses then giving Utah a chance in the Pac-12 tournament.  And with all this roller coaster action, Utah ends up just where they were last year: a First Round game in Provo with a chance to play the #1 team, Southeastern Conference champion.  It is a tough slot if they end up playing Georgia in the Orange Bowl.

But one more thing amount Tennessee.  Before this past weekend, the Volunteers looked like a #7 seed, probably going to Louisiana to play Tulane, then would play #2 Michigan.  At first, when TCU and USC were upset, and they went into the at-large pool, it looked like Penn State and Tennessee might have gone from "in" to "out" of the tournament.  Instead USC is out, and Tennessee actually moves up to sixth seed and a match-up with Ohio State.  

RECE: Also, let's take a look at the Big XII.  Yes, they are losing Oklahoma and Texas, but four teams in the tournament over the last two years: Baylor, Oklahoma State, and this year Kansas State and TCU.  Plus, teams with tournament history Cincinnati, Central Florida, Houston, and BYU are joining the fold.  

MARK: Yes, Oklahoma and Texas are highly visible programs, with history and great brands, but how will they look within the SEC, among all of their strong programs.  Right now, it looks like Oklahoma and Texas will be in the middle of the pack at best in the SEC.

LOU: And I think Nebraska should go back to the Big XII because they have always needed to recruit outside Nebraska, and the Big XII would give them a connection to Texas and Oklahoma high schoolers.  Is Nebraska going to go to Ohio and Pennsylvania and pick-up talent?  I don't think so.  Maybe they can move to the Pac-12 for west coast talent.  And I don't think the Big Ten would mind Nebraska leaving.  The Big Ten likes schools in the prestigious  Association of American Universities, and Nebraska no longer is, and all the other conference schools are.  So Nebraska, move over to Big XII, get your mojo back.

RECE:  Guys, let's talk about a proposed twelve team tournament that may be on its way.  How would their proposal differ from Commissioner Nelson's tournament? 

LOU: Wow Rece, it would be really, really different.  The four byes would go to only conference champions in their new proposal.  So that would mean Georgia and Michigan get a bye, but also two conference champions, Kansas State, Clemson, or Utah get the other two byes.  In Commissioner Nelson's tournament, these are teams in the First Round, without a bye.  Big difference!

MARK: Yes coach, big difference.  The new proposal is trying to make sure that the conference championships maintain their importance, or even increase their importance.  On the other hand, Commissioner Nelson wants to maintain what a lot of people want, to keep every week of the season important.  And those losses that Kansas State and Utah had early in the season should prevent them from being equated to Michigan and Georgia. Commissioner Nelson is right, every week should matter.

LOU: That is right Mark, and part of that importance of every week is that teams, A) want to make the tournament, B) want to make the top six and avoid a First Round game, and C) want to be one of the top two teams.  This keeps every week important.

MARK:  Yes coach, and Commissioner Nelson stumbled onto this when the tournament was expanded from eight to ten teams.  And apropos to the proposed twelve team tournament, we have discussed in previous years whether we even need a ten team tournament anymore.  Conferences getting bigger, poaching from the smaller conferences, twelve game seasons, and conference championship games have all reduced the number of teams with tournament worthy resumes. 

LOU: Another difference between the two tournaments is the twelve team tournament starts out with four home games.  Commissioner Nelson does not believe in home games.  He thinks that the basketball tournament eventually dropped home games because it was not fair, why should the football tournament need home games?

MARK:  And also Commissioner Nelson loves taking the tournament all over the country, not just the southern states.  This year we have tournament games in Kansas City and Provo, in the past, people have loved when Clemson and USC played in Green Bay against Wisconsin.  The reason people talk about on-campus games as a necessity, is they say college fans cannot follow their teams all over the country to neutral sites.  However, Commissioner Nelson has done two things to deal with this objection.  The First Round games are assigned to a location with a regional advantage.  No doubt that Kansas City and Provo will sell a lot of tickets, and local businesses will like to have some mid-December visitors.  Secondly, Commissioner Nelson spreads the Semi-Finals, or Football's Final Four, to any roofed stadium anywhere in the country.  So four schools share the ticket purchases, plus a city like Syracuse, who hosts this year's Semi-Finals, sell a lot of tickets to local fans who want to take in an exciting double header of college football.

LOU:  So right Mark, I think Commissioner Nelson should be considered as the COO of the proposed tournament.

RECE: Well guys, I think Syracuse will host two intra-conference semi-final games: Georgia versus Alabama, and a Michigan-Ohio State re-match.  Mark, who do you like to win it all this year at SoFi Stadium?

MARK:  I think it is Georgia's year to win back to back titles.  They are in second consecutive Orange Bowl, they are from the pinnacle conference.  I think the Bulldogs are ready again.

LOU:  Mark, repeating is so tough.  We have not seen back to back champs for a long, long time.  So it will not be Georgia.  Hey, Alabama has made the Semi-Finals eleven of the past thirteen years.  Nick Saban is incredible.  So Crimson Tide, you are going to Syracuse, and once you are there, you have a one in four chance of taking the title.  So this year, look for Alabama to take it all.  

RECE:  What other team should we look out for Mark?

MARK:  I like Tennessee as a real spoiler.  If there is a gap between the SEC and Big Ten, well, the Volunteers path starts with Ohio State, and if they win there, they may play Michigan, so they might ride Big Ten teams to the championship game.

LOU:  Well, I hate to keep talking about Clemson, but boy, watch out for the Tigers.  They have a hot new quarterback, they can win against Kansas State, and have a great chance against Michigan in the Rose Bowl.  Clemson is a team under-rated and overlooked.  Unlike Tennessee Mark, they may have upgraded quarterback instead of downgrading.

RECE: Guys, the team with the most consecutive current tournament appearances?  It is Ohio State in their tenth straight tournament, with no titles yet.  I am going to choose the Buckeyes.  So let's look at the brackets one more time: