“This isn’t a voting bloc.”

Says one of the three dudes in a self-labeled Alliance, all of whom voted to scotch a 12-team playoff.  But don’t say it’s their fault, acting together, damn it.

The commissioners from the ACC, Pac-12 and Big Ten pushed back on Friday against any public misconception that their “Alliance” of conferences worked together to stop expansion of the College Football Playoff.

“I think that’s a narrative that certain folks benefit from having out there even if it’s not true,” said Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff, who joined Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips on Friday in an exclusive interview with ESPN reporters.

Nah, would you believe it?  It was just a fucking coincidence.

“When we’re talking about what should it look like, or when should we make the decision, we have real differences of opinion,” Kliavkoff said. “And it just so happens that each of us came to our own conclusion about why we couldn’t vote yes to the proposal that was on the table. And I think we’ve all been public now that others have decided for us that we’re going to air our laundry as opposed to make a decision in the room and then announce the decision.”

I mean, it’s not like the three of them ever spent time together, or anything ($$).

… Most of the CFP management committee’s in-person meetings over the past eight months took place at the Grand Hyatt connected to the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. Easy in, easy out for a lot of busy administrators. And the lobby bar the night before meetings was convenient both for a late dinner or a few drinks. The three Alliance commissioners would sometimes sit together off to the side, a visual representation of the battle lines drawn.

Again, I am of the belief that there’s too much money involved for these idiots to ignore.  Eventually, everyone will swallow their fee fees, cut a deal and proclaim they rose above their differences to do it for the kids.

But, given his track record regarding the future of college football’s postseason, I have to admit Bill Hancock is doing his best to give me false hope.

“The worst case would be failing to agree on a plan in October 2024,” Hancock said, pinpointing the month that the CFP’s exclusive negotiating window with ESPN begins. “No one wants to get to the point where there’s no event to decide the national championship. I am confident we will not get to that point.”

Be still, my heart.

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