default-cbs-image

If we've learned anything about the College Football Playoff selection process during its first three years, it's that, while the criteria for selection may change on an annual basis, there's always at least one team feeling left out of the party. This year, if there's any team with a legitimate gripe, it would have to be Penn State.

The Nittany Lions won the Big Ten title -- the conference deemed by most to be the toughest in the nation this year -- and also scored a win over an Ohio State team that was selected ahead of them, but if they're angry about missing out, you certainly couldn't see it in coach James Franklin's response.

"Our guys would have obviously loved to have been in the playoff, but they're also excited about the opportunity to play in a big bowl game," said Franklin during an interview on the CFP selection show Sunday afternoon.

"We've had a great year -- I'm really proud of our guys. Yeah, they would have loved to have been in the playoffs, but we're still very, very appreciative and honored for the opportunities that we have."

This is a change in tune to what Franklin was saying on Saturday night, when he was not-so-subtly politicking to get his team into the playoff. Still, it's an understandable reaction. Going on television after the announcement and being angry about it wouldn't change anything, and the fact is, even if Penn State does have a legitimate playoff case, it's not like the Nittany Lions are getting totally screwed here.

I mean, the Rose Bowl is one hell of a consolation prize.