South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer isn't thrilled that his team moved up just one spot in this week's College Football Playoff rankings after their road win against the Clemson Tigers this past weekend. 

The Gamecocks are ranked No. 14 in the latest playoff rankings, three spots behind Alabama and one spot behind Ole Miss. 

That means South Carolina has essentially no chance to be one of the 12 teams that's playing for a national championship later this month. 

Beamer sounded off on the College Football Playoff committee on Wednesday and he used the Tennessee Vols as an example of the inconsistency that we've seen from the committee so far through the rankings process (which, for some reason, drags out for a month….when ultimately only the final rankings mean anything).

"We've had previous committees that said they start with a blank slate every single week," said Beamer. "And if you start with a blank slate every week and you say ok let's rank the 12 best teams, regardless of record, it's hard to say, like I told you guys on Saturday, that we're not one of [the 12 best teams] in my mind. So that part of it is disappointing — that it doesn't appear they started with a blank slate.

"And I get it. They're going to say well head to head — you can't be ahead of Alabama and Ole Miss because you lost to them head to head. Well, they had Alabama ahead of Tennessee at one point when they both had the same number of losses and Tennessee beat Alabama. So I don't know if that holds up. It's frustrating. I feel like a basketball coach now because I feel like see this every year on selection Sunday before March Madness, like what's the criteria?" 

Shane Beamer on data points:

"If I hear the word data point one more time in my life, I may throw up." ?

Commenting on Alabama vs. South Carolina ranking, notes the Playoff committee ranked Alabama ahead of Tennessee with same records despite head-to-head result.

"There are… pic.twitter.com/oQcfltDuf8

— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) December 4, 2024

Whether or not South Carolina deserves to be in is up for debate. They're playing well right now. And they could probably beat any team in the top 12 right now. Does that mean they should be in? I don't know. I don't think anyone knows. So many of these teams have resumés (if that's what we're going by) that are very similar. Multiple teams that deserve a spot are going to be left out. 

As for Beamer's comments, he's spot on. The "criteria" is all over the place. The committee is contradicting itself constantly. How does Alabama jump Miami this week but Ole Miss doesn't? Why didn't South Carolina jump Miami? When does head to head actually matter? Only when needed to justify a ranking? 

This has been a massive debacle. The committee is undoubtedly in a tough spot, but they've made things more difficult on themselves by being vague and inconsistent about the process. 

But hey, I have a simple solution for the committee if they want to make the criticism go away. 

Just do one rankings reveal show after conference championship weekend. You know, since the month of rankings beforehand are completely pointless and of no use at all. Well, except for the advertising dollars they generate. 

It's always about money when it comes to college football these days. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise. 

Josh Heupel’s reaction to where Tennessee is ranked in College Football Playoff rankings will get Vols fans fired up

Perfect response