College Football Playoff Expansion: Success Amid Scheduling Challenges
College football is in the middle of a wild transformation, all thanks to the expanded College Football Playoff (CFP). Now in its second season, this new playoff format has stirred up fresh excitement, but also a fair bit of confusion and debate.
On one hand, more teams have a legitimate shot to prove themselves on the field. On the other, fans and teams are still adjusting to the new landscape, sometimes with a sense of frustration or even nostalgia for how things used to be.
This blog post takes a closer look at the tangled mess of the expanded playoff, what it’s doing to the old bowl system, and what it all might mean for the future of the sport.
Contents
The Expanded College Football Playoff: A Double-Edged Sword
The idea behind expanding the CFP was simple: give more teams a crack at the national championship, moving away from the tight four-team setup. That was supposed to make the sport fairer and more exciting, at least in theory.
Last season, Ohio State, seeded eighth, pulled off a wild run to win it all. This year, it’s undefeated Indiana up against No. 10 seed Miami, who’ve played some inspired football to get here.
The Upside: More Teams, More Excitement
There’s no denying the expanded playoff has cranked up the excitement. Suddenly, more teams are in the mix, and that’s brought some much-needed unpredictability.
Programs that used to be afterthoughts are getting their shot, shaking up the old pecking order. The games feel less predictable, and honestly, that’s made the season a lot more fun to watch.
The Downside: Fan Discontent and Off-Field Chaos
But if you ask around, not everyone’s thrilled. A recent poll from The Athletic showed that 56 percent of over 12,000 voters think college football is, well, kind of a mess right now.
Most of the grumbling isn’t about the games themselves, but about the chaos off the field—coaches chasing paychecks, the wild world of NIL deals, and the ever-spinning transfer portal. It’s left some fans wondering if the sport still feels like the college football they grew up loving.
The Toll on the Traditional Bowl System
The old bowl system used to be a highlight of college football. Now, with the playoff season dragging on, those classic bowl games are starting to feel like an afterthought.
This year’s title game lands 38 days after bowl season kicks off, and 32 days after the playoff’s opening round. For a bit of context, the pre-playoff bowl stretch averaged just over 19 days, and the old four-team playoff wrapped up in less than 11 days.
The Extended Playoff Schedule
The new format means fans have to wait longer between big games, and the schedule feels a bit stretched thin. The gap between the semifinals and the championship is especially odd—longer than the entire old playoff used to be.
It’s like college football is caught in this weird in-between, not quite amateur anymore but not fully professional either. It can be a little disorienting if you’re used to the old rhythms.
Comparing to Other Playoff Formats
Funny thing is, the 12-team college playoff and the NFL’s 14-team playoffs aren’t all that different in length. The college playoff averages about 32 days, and the NFL wraps up in just over 29.
But the NFL’s postseason just flows better, maybe because it owns January and you know what to expect. College football, meanwhile, has to dodge around the NFL’s schedule, which means some of its biggest games end up on random weekday nights.
The Paradox of Modern College Sports
One of the toughest things college football’s facing is this tug-of-war between tradition and TV money. The sport’s got a unique atmosphere, but its real value is tied up in how well it plays on TV.
With the NFL gobbling up more airtime, college football is left scrambling for exposure. That’s led to a playoff calendar that just doesn’t quite fit the sport’s old-school vibe.
The Impact of Television Scheduling
TV scheduling makes a huge difference in how these games feel. Nearly all NFL playoff games—92 percent—are on weekends, but only 9 percent of college playoff games get that prime slot.
Most college playoff games end up on weeknights, which can feel… a little random, honestly. It’s a perfect example of how college football is stuck trying to keep its traditions alive while chasing TV ratings.
Recalibrating Fan Expectations
The expanded playoff is basically asking fans to rethink how they follow the sport. College football’s starting to look and feel more like a pro league, even as it asks for the same kind of campus loyalty.
It’s a weird adjustment. The games are still great, but the whole experience is shifting in ways that can leave longtime fans feeling a bit lost—or maybe just nostalgic for the way things were.
Conclusion: Embracing the New Era of College Football
The expanded College Football Playoff has really shaken things up. It’s opened new doors and brought a jolt of excitement, but there’s no denying some fans feel uneasy about it.
Traditional bowl games? They’re facing some tough times. The sport’s roots in amateurism seem to be fading as things get more professional, and it’s forcing everyone to rethink what they expect from college football.
Where does it all lead? Honestly, nobody knows for sure. The game’s changing fast, and its future feels a little unpredictable—maybe that’s part of the fun, or maybe it’s cause for concern.
Curious about all the details? There’s a much deeper exploration over at Neil Paine’s Substack.
