College football’s playoff system is starting to resemble a poorly built cheap bookshelf—it looks okay, but it can’t handle the real load. Former Penn State tight end and analyst Adam Breneman sees the cracks. He thinks the whole seeding system is a mess and needs a complete makeover. It’s time to build a stronger shelf, one that can hold the weight of the best teams in college football.

Breneman, in a detailed Instagram post, didn’t mince words right from the jump, even in his caption, “The CFP seeding system currently broken. We need to fix it ASAP.” He argued that conference championship games have lost significance in determining a team’s standing. Breneman explained, “A team goes 12-0 in regular season, then loses by a fluke play in the big 12 title game. The other team should not then get the first round bye with 3 or 4 losses.” A fluke play or bad day shouldn’t derail an entire season, especially when the opposing team might have multiple losses. His analogy to the NFL’s divisional structure drives his point home. Unlike college football, the NFL rewards sustained excellence throughout the season, offering byes and home games to top teams without subjecting them to a single, do-or-die divisional playoff game.

Breneman’s remarks bring the Nittany Lions head coach’s side to the spotlight. James Franklin and Penn State have narrowly escaped a loss against Minnesota with a nail-biting 26-25 win, keeping their CFP hopes alive. But Adam Breneman points out a controversial twist: if Penn State avoids the Big Ten Championship Game, they’re almost guaranteed to host a first-round playoff game; they won’t get a first-round bye, but still. Look, on the other hand, if they risk it all and lose in the title game, they could drop to a lower seed or face a tougher road game.

The analyst showed concern for his former school, which is still 10-1 in a tough B1G conference. “Would you rather be a five or six seed hosting in Happy Valley or an 11-seed on the road because of one bad night against. If they play in the conference title game, then lose to Oregon by 14 points, they’re probably still in the playoff, but they’re probably an 11 or 12 seed in the playoff. They’re are probably a 10 seed, not a six or five seed that they would be right now.”

This argument gains traction in light of recent upsets across college football. Teams like Washington and Alabama have seen their championship aspirations take massive hits after one-off losses. Meanwhile, top-tier programs are being asked to walk a razor’s edge through grueling regular seasons and then risk everything in one more game. Adam Breneman predicts a future where elite teams may deliberately avoid their conference title games to protect playoff positioning—a strategy that feels counterintuitive but might become the new norm.

To Penn State fans, this raises a tricky question: should James Franklin and his Nittany Lions gamble it all in the Big Ten Championship or play it safe, ensuring their playoff journey begins in front of a roaring home crowd? Regardless of coach Franklin’s gamble to save his QB Allar, he needs to still fix a few things.

Coach James Franklin outlines Penn State and its fix-it list

James Franklin started it off with the special teams’ struggles that turned out to be pivotal in Penn State’s matchup against Minnesota. The Gophers’ blocked punt in the second quarter shifted the game’s momentum, setting them up with prime field position for a quick touchdown and a 17-10 lead. According to JK in his post-win press meet, it wasn’t a scheme failure but an execution mishap. With three blockers assigned to counter Minnesota’s three rushers, punter Riley Thompson’s wider-than-normal kick gave Derik LeCaptain just enough of an edge to get a hand on the pigskin.

Later, another special team’s misstep haunted Penn State. A blocked extra-point attempt in the closing moments of the first half led to a Minnesota defensive two-point return. Instead of heading to halftime with the game tied, the Nittany Lions trailed 19-16, a frustrating swing that highlighted the significance of clean execution in high-pressure moments. Franklin’s takeaway? Execution matters just as much as strategy.