Revamping College Football: Josh Pate’s Plan to Fix Playoff Schedule

College football’s in a bit of a scheduling mess right now. The College Football Playoff (CFP) keeps stretching into January, the transfer portal feels endless, and those classic conference titles and bowl games? They’re fading into the background.

ESPN’s Josh Pate thinks he’s got a fix. He laid out his plan on his show, and honestly, it sounds like it could bring some order to the chaos.

Week 0 Games: A Simple But Effective Start

Pate’s idea kicks off with something pretty straightforward: start the season with Week 0 games. Some schools, like Iowa State and Kansas State, have already jumped in early, and now Kansas and Stanford are joining, too.

If Week 0 becomes official, the regular season can start sooner, which opens up space for the rest of the schedule. That’s not a bad way to buy some breathing room.

Benefits of Week 0 Games

• More Preparation Time: Teams get an extra week to get their act together before the real grind begins.
• Flexibility: Starting early gives schedulers more wiggle room later on.
• Viewer Engagement: Fans can get their football fix sooner, which definitely amps up excitement.

Adjusting Conference Championship Games

Here’s where it gets a little spicy. Pate wants to move conference championship games up by a week. With playoffs creeping later and some conferences adding more games, the current timing just isn’t working.

By shifting these games earlier, the postseason could be way less chaotic. Bowl season might actually get to stick around, too.

Impact on Playoff and Bowl Games

• Streamlined Playoffs: A tighter schedule means fewer overlaps, so playoff games can finish up on time.
• Bowl Season Preservation: Moving things up keeps the bowl tradition alive, which fans and sponsors probably appreciate.
• Player Welfare: Less chaos means players might stay healthier—always a plus.

Revolutionizing Bowl Games

Pate’s boldest idea? Bowl games with real stakes before the playoff field is set. These would give bubble teams one last shot to prove themselves. Imagine Oregon vs. Houston, Ole Miss vs. Michigan, Texas vs. Utah, or Notre Dame vs. Vanderbilt in 2025—those are the kind of matchups he’s talking about.

These games wouldn’t lock in playoff spots, but they’d give teams a final chance to make their case. That could shake things up in a good way.

Advantages of Pre-Playoff Bowl Games

• Increased Excitement: High-stakes games right before the playoffs? That’s bound to get people talking.
• Clearer Playoff Picture: It’d be easier to tell who really belongs in the playoff mix.
• Revenue Generation: More big games mean more money for schools and conferences—always a motivator.

Campus Site Second Round Games

Pate’s also a fan of moving second-round playoff games to campus sites. Sure, there are some hurdles—like the Army/Navy game’s special status—but the upside is huge.

Playing on campus would make these games feel electric, and it’d save teams and fans from some of the travel headaches.

Benefits of Campus Site Games

• Home-Field Advantage: Teams get to play in front of their own fans, which can be a real game-changer.
• Reduced Travel: Less time on the road means less fatigue all around.
• Enhanced Atmosphere: Let’s be honest, campus games just feel bigger than neutral sites.

Condensed Schedule for a Timely Conclusion

Pate’s plan also pushes for a shorter season, aiming to finish up by mid-January. That helps keep players healthy, fans interested, and lines up better with the school calendar.

He’s big on “wrapping that thing up by mid-January,” and, honestly, it sounds pretty reasonable.

Advantages of a Condensed Schedule

• Player Health: Fewer weeks mean fewer injuries and less wear and tear.
• Fan Engagement: A quick finish keeps people tuned in instead of burning out.
• Academic Alignment: Ending earlier just makes more sense for student-athletes trying to juggle classes and football.

Conclusion: A Visionary Plan for College Football

Josh Pate likes to joke about being the College Football Commissioner. With a plan like this, though, maybe he’s onto something.

He’s tackling the big issues in college football right now. His proposal tries to find a balance that works for players, fans, and—honestly—the sport itself.

Week 0 games, shifting conference championship schedules, and pre-playoff bowl games all get a spot in his blueprint. There’s even talk of second-round playoff games on campus, plus a more condensed calendar overall.

Curious about all the details? You can check out Josh Pate’s full proposal over at Sports Illustrated.