Texas Tech Coach Calls for College Football Calendar Reform

Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire has been pretty vocal lately about the college football calendar. He’s not thrilled with the long break between conference championship games and the playoff quarterfinals.

McGuire, who just led Texas Tech to its first Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff spot, thinks the calendar is out of whack. He’s said it needs to be “fixed” before anyone even tries to tackle things like the transfer portal.

His comments have really struck a nerve with other coaches, too. The timing of these games and the awkward gap before the quarterfinals is starting to get on everyone’s nerves.

The Impact of a Flawed Calendar

McGuire’s main gripe? Teams face a 25-day break between the conference championships and the playoff quarterfinals. That’s nearly a month—kind of absurd, honestly.

Most teams that get a first-round playoff bye have ended up losing in the quarterfinals over the last couple of seasons. McGuire pointed out that Indiana is the only team in two years to actually win its quarterfinal game after sitting out that long.

Challenges Faced by Teams

The current calendar has thrown up some real problems for teams, especially those with a first-round bye. Here’s what they’re up against:

• Loss of Momentum: That long break can kill a team’s momentum. It’s tough to keep your edge when you’re just waiting around.
• Preparation Issues: Coaches are scrambling to find ways to keep players sharp during the downtime. It’s not easy, and it shows on the field.
• Increased Pressure: All that time off just piles on the pressure. Players and coaches feel it, and it can mess with their heads.

Coach McGuire’s Call for Change

On a recent radio show, McGuire didn’t mince words. He called the current schedule “backwards” and said fixing it should be the “No. 1 priority.”

He’s convinced that until the calendar gets sorted out, any other changes are just temporary fixes. It’s a bit like putting a band-aid on a broken leg.

Proposed Solutions

So, what’s the fix? McGuire and a few other coaches have tossed out some ideas:

• Rescheduling Conference Championships: Maybe bump those games to an earlier date. That could shrink the gap before the quarterfinals.
• Introducing Mock Games: The Oregon Ducks’ coach tried a mock game before their quarterfinal after a bye. It might not be a bad idea for other teams to try that, too.
• Adjusting Practice Schedules: Some teams are experimenting with different practice routines to keep everyone engaged during the break. Not sure if there’s a magic formula yet, but it’s worth a shot.

The Broader Implications

All this frustration points to a bigger problem with the way college football is scheduled. The current setup is throwing off team prep and playoff performance, plain and simple.

Fixing the timing of conference championships and the long layoff before quarterfinals feels like it should be at the top of the to-do list. For the record, the 2026 Quarterfinals start on Wednesday, Dec. 30 with the Fiesta Bowl, then the Cotton, Peach, and Rose Bowls land on Friday, Jan. 1, 2027.

The Semifinals are two weeks later: Orange Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 14, and the Sugar Bowl on Friday, Jan. 15. The 2027 CFP National Championship Game wraps it all up ten days after that—Monday, Jan. 25 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Looking Ahead

The calendar’s not changing this season, but the College Football Playoff did release the official dates and bowl sites for the upcoming CFP back in early February.

McGuire’s comments have stirred up talk among coaches, players, and fans about whether college football’s schedule needs a real shake-up. Is it time to rethink things? Hard to say if anyone will actually make the tough calls needed for a schedule that’s fair to every team.

For more on Joey McGuire’s criticisms and the debate around the college football calendar, check out the original article.