What a season it has been in college football.

With one game left, I think it’s fair to say the new College Football Playoff was a success on every level.

The new playoff system and rankings brought more excitement, passion and discussion to fans and teams across the country.

Throughout the season, the mid-week announcement of the committee’s rankings drew millions of viewers, as did both of the first playoff games last week.

Regardless of which team you support, I think you’d agree it was a success.

Sure, fans of Baylor and Texas Christian have a legitimate gripe that they were left out, but the committee had a just-as-legitimate case as to why neither made it to Pasadena or New Orleans.

While my Michigan Wolverines didn’t make the playoff — or a bowl game, thank you — I got to enjoy the playoff through those around me.

My wife and her family, have done their duty to make me a fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

My family is entirely made up of fans of … well, that school from Columbus, Ohio.

Rachel and I met my parents in New Orleans last week, and spent a day with them before they attended the game.

All around us, as it always is for the Sugar Bowl, the city was abuzz. But there was something extra.

It wasn’t just the Sugar Bowl this year. It obviously meant more.

Just like every game did this year.

While teams weren’t eliminated from the playoff because of one win, every game mattered.

Football has always been big in the South, and now it will be across the country.

For lifelong fans of the game, this season’s playoff has brought them something they’ve waited years to see; one true champion.

While the season’s end will surely have fans of Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and Louisiana State, among others, feeling empty handed, what a ride it has been.

From an outsider’s perspective — again, I’m a Michigan fan — this year was just what college football needed.

The playoff is now in place and the eyes of a football-crazed country have loved every minute of the season.

Obviously, I hope it is not long before Michigan can join in the end-of-the-season festivities

But until then, I’ll join a few million others and enjoy every second of the season’s final chapter.

Jay Sowers is photo editor of Gulf Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at jay@gulfcoastmedia.com.