The Group of Five now has access to an automatic bid for its highest ranked team in the College Football Playoff rankings. However, if ESPN’s Paul Finebaum had his way, only the power conferences would be granted entry into the CFP.
During Wednesday’s edition of First Take, Finebaum refuted Chris “Mad Dog” Russo’s claim that there’s too many SEC teams in the current top 12 rankings by making an example out of South Florida.
The 7-2 Bulls, out of the American conference, are ranked No. 24 as they vie for the prized automatic bid. South Florida began the season with ranked victories vs. Boise State and Florida.
Yet Finebaum is peeved by what he deems to be inferior teams getting an undeserved golden ticket.
"The Group of Five with South Florida … that division really has no business playing. That's like letting the Triple-A best team into the Major League playoffs."@finebaum believes the best college football teams should make the CFP pic.twitter.com/T0cPfijD4Y
— First Take (@FirstTake) November 12, 2025“What about putting the best in? I don’t see Major League, I don’t see the NFL going ‘Ah, the Chiefs. They’ve been there too many times. Let’s put the Patriots in. Doggie, this is supposed to be about excellence, not about being fair,” Finebaum said. “This is not the little leagues where we give a second, third, fourth, and fifth place trophy. This should be the best.”
Finebaum compares the Group of Five to the minor leagues in professional baseball.
“It’s already a convoluted system because we let the group of whatever in, the Group of Five with South Florida. That division really has no business playing,” Finebaum said. “That’s like letting the Triple-A best team into the Major League playoffs.”
South Florida will aim to continue building its case with a key road game at unranked Navy, who is atop the American standings. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET (ESPN2) on Saturday.
Will USF make the CFP? Here’s how things are trending at prediction market Kalshi, where you can get in on the wager action today!
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