Colin Cowherd Critiques Excessive Downtime in College Football Playoff Schedule
The 2026-27 College Football Playoff schedule has stirred up a lot of debate among fans and analysts. FS1 host Colin Cowherd has been especially outspoken, hopping on social media to vent about what he sees as way too much downtime between games.
This schedule runs from Dec. 18 all the way to Jan. 25. People are already wondering how that might affect teams and whether it’ll kill some of the postseason excitement. Let’s dig into the details, the backlash, and maybe even what’s next for college football.
Contents
The 2026-27 College Football Playoff Schedule
The first-round games kick things off on Dec. 18 and 19, with teams seeded No. 5 through No. 12. The top four teams? They get to sit out the first round and don’t play until the end of December.
Quarterfinals start on Dec. 30, with just one game that day and then three more on New Year’s Day. Then, after a pretty big wait, the semifinals land on Jan. 14 and 15. The championship game is set for Jan. 25 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Key Dates
- First-round games: Dec. 18-19
- Quarterfinals: Dec. 30 and Jan. 1
- Semifinals: Jan. 14-15
- Championship Game: Jan. 25
Criticism of the Schedule
Colin Cowherd wasted no time calling out the long gaps between games, calling the schedule’s pacing “excessive.” Plenty of fans seem to agree, scratching their heads over the need for so much downtime.
One fan even said the two-week gap between quarterfinals and semifinals “makes no sense.” Others have taken aim at the playoff format itself, frustrated with odd-number spots and the resulting byes.
Impact on Team Performance
Those long breaks are especially tough for teams that get first-round byes. Historically, teams with byes haven’t always fared well in the next round.
Take the Georgia Bulldogs—they’ve had first-round byes the last two years but couldn’t make it past the quarterfinals. Georgia’s coach, Kirby Smart, hasn’t been shy about saying he’d rather see a more continuous season. In his words, football just isn’t meant to be played with huge gaps.
It’s not hard to see why. Teams can lose momentum during these long pauses, and that can really hurt their performance. The breaks just seem to throw off the rhythm, making it harder for teams to stay sharp.
Potential Solutions and Future Changes
With all this criticism flying around, people are already talking about how to fix things. One idea that keeps popping up is expanding the playoffs to 24 teams. That could mean the season starts a bit earlier and those long, awkward breaks shrink down.
Benefits of an Expanded Playoff
- Reduced Downtime: Shorter breaks between games could help teams keep their edge.
- More Teams: More squads would get a shot, which might make the postseason a lot more interesting.
- Earlier Start: Kicking things off sooner could help avoid those long gaps that drive everyone nuts.
The 2026-27 College Football Playoff schedule has really stirred things up. There’s a debate brewing—one that might end up changing the whole system down the line.
Critics like Colin Cowherd and Georgia’s head coach Kirby Smart aren’t exactly thrilled. They’ve pointed out that the long gaps between games could throw off teams and maybe even dull some of the postseason excitement.
If you’re curious where all this goes, you’re not alone. For a deeper dive, check out the full article on On3.
