College Football Playoff Schedule Issues Persist Despite New Format

The College Football Playoff (CFP) just bumped up to a 12-team format. It was supposed to make the postseason more thrilling, right? But now, after a couple of seasons, people are starting to notice some real issues. Coaches, players, and fans have all voiced concerns about the longer schedule and those awkward pauses between games.

The latest schedule announcement stirred up even more debate. Folks are talking about when the games happen, how it affects player readiness, and if the whole playoff vibe is what it should be.

Understanding the New 12-Team Format

The move to a 12-team playoff was meant to open the door for more teams to chase the title. On paper, that sounds like a win for competition.

But the way the schedule is set up right now? It’s got some major drawbacks that kind of undercut those good intentions.

Key Dates and Breaks

Pete Thamel pointed out the upcoming Playoff dates. There’s almost a two-week gap between the quarterfinals and semifinals.

This long break creates several headaches:

• Player Readiness: Teams lose their rhythm. It’s tough to stay sharp with so much downtime.
• Fan Engagement: Fans start to drift. The energy fizzles when there’s too much waiting around.
• Season Duration: The National Championship Game lands on January 25th. That’s pretty late, especially when you factor in the Transfer Portal and NFL Draft stuff that’s right around the corner.

Issues with the Current Schedule

One of the loudest complaints? The season just drags on and on. Having the title game on January 25th feels like overkill to a lot of people.

LSU’s Lane Kiffin didn’t hold back—he’s said the calendar somehow got worse, almost like it was intentional. For teams that make it to the end, it takes nearly a month to play just three games. That’s a lot of waiting for not much action.

Impact on Players and Coaches

These long breaks aren’t just annoying—they can actually hurt players and coaches:

• Disruption of Routine: Players do best with a steady routine. Long pauses throw off their groove and mess with their prep.
• Injury Risk: Sitting around too long? Not great for staying in shape. It can actually make injuries more likely when they finally get back on the field.
• Coaching Challenges: Coaches like a weekly rhythm. Having to rework training and strategy for these gaps is a headache nobody really wants.

Proposed Solutions for a Better Schedule

So, what could actually fix this mess? A few changes come to mind:

Shorten the Season

First off, just make the whole thing shorter. There are a couple ways to do that:

• Eliminating Long Breaks: Cut down the downtime between games to keep teams in the zone.
• Adjusting Game Dates: Maybe it’s time to let go of the New Year’s Day tradition when it falls on a weekday. A more predictable, condensed schedule could help.

Consider Player and Coach Feedback

Honestly, listening to the people actually involved—players and coaches—should be a no-brainer. Most coaches want a weekly schedule, and it’s not hard to see why. Their input could make the whole postseason run smoother and feel less like a slog.

The Role of Conference Commissioners

Conference commissioners have a big say in how this all plays out. As they keep talking about expansion, they’ve got to pay attention to the calendar too.

Ideally, the playoffs should wrap up before the Transfer Portal and NFL Draft madness really kicks off. Otherwise, it just gets messy.

Balancing Tradition and Innovation

Tradition matters in college football—nobody’s denying that. But sometimes you have to shake things up to make progress.

If it means ditching New Year’s Day games for a better playoff, maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Commissioners need to be bold enough to make those calls, even if it ruffles a few feathers.

The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff format could bring a lot more excitement to the postseason. More teams, more chances—what’s not to like?

But honestly, the schedule is a bit of a mess. Those long breaks and late-season games? They make things tough for everyone involved.

Cutting down the season and getting rid of those awkward pauses might actually help. Players and coaches have been pretty vocal about wanting some changes, and it’s hard to blame them.

Conference commissioners are still tweaking the format, but the calendar is the real problem here. If they can straighten that out, the whole playoff experience could be a lot smoother—and maybe even more fun to watch.

For more detailed insights into the issues with the current College Football Playoff schedule, you can read the full article on Saturday Blitz.