Before closing the case on the College Football Playoff rankings, we here at the National Championship Investigative Service of central Ohio — aka NCIS: Columbus — sifted the evidence for clues showing why the selection committee voted as it did.
It was a laborious endeavor that required listening to what committee chairman Jeff Long said and translating it into what he really meant. For instance, when Long went on the Big Ten Network on Monday and said, “The committee tries not to send specific messages,” the key word was tries.
Trying to do something, or in this case to not do something, is not the same as actually achieving the desired result.