College football’s move toward a 12-team playoff necessary for sport’s pulse
In case you missed it, a college football Roman Candle went off yesterday. (Sorry, couldn’t move myself to say “bombshell.”)
A subcommittee charged with evaluating the future of the College Football Playoff system recommended expansion from four to 12 teams, split evenly between conference champions and at-large teams.
The proposal came from a working group of Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick.
“This proposal at its heart was created to create more participation for more schools and more players,” said CFP executive director Bill Hancock.
To which, I respectfully disagree.
This was about picking up a defibrillator and administering a shock to a sport badly in need of a jump.
And it’s quite a turnaround. I remember WVU president and friend E. Gordon Gee famously saying in 2007 – then the president of Ohio State – that, “As far as a playoff system is concerned, there will not be one. They will wrench a playoff system out of my cold, dead hands. It’s too much of moving toward having universities being farm clubs for the pros.”
Fourteen years later, we’re talking about college athletes profiting off their name, image and likeness. And not only is there a playoff in place it’s on track to expand to 12.
Because college football had to make a move. It needed innovation.
Just check the numbers.
Forget the pandemic year of 2020. Look at the attendance figures before that. In 2019, college football hit a 24-year low, according to the NCAA’s numbers. The FBS average of 41,477 per game was the sport’s lowest since 1996. And it marked the eighth time in nine years there had been an overall national decline. Some fans point to the expense involved. Some say the interest just isn’t there.
And look at TV ratings. Those of last season’s whole four-team, three-game playoff were down 13 percent. On Jan. 12, ESPN said the national championship drew 18.7 million viewers, which is terrible.
Yes, it’s a lack of parity. The same teams year after year. The Haves vs. the Have-Nots. But that’s just one part of the equation.
Put it all together. That’s why something needed to be done. So, the CFP committee threw a haymaker. We’ll see if it connects.
It’s certainly good news for WVU, which is having trouble recruiting at the level of Oklahoma within the Big 12. There’s more breathing room with a 12-team playoff field. It’s good news for Marshall, which is certainly capable of winning Conference USA titles here and there.
Now, am I totally sold on the plan? No. After first-round games are held at the home site of the higher seeded teams, quarterfinals will be held at bowls. Why? Bowlsby said there was concern about having playoff games in northern winter weather. Sankey said hosting on short notice in January could be difficult for some college towns. I say bull. And if I were a mayor of these college towns, I’d organize and make it known the financial shot in the arm is not only welcome but needed.
Also, for goodness sake, yes, expand the playoffs, but contract the regular season by a game. Go to 11 rather than the current 12. No one needs to see WVU play Long Island University. Make up the loss in profit through the soon-to-be-reshaped CFP TV contract. Give these kids a break if you’re not going to pay them. It’s not the NFL, yet some teams could play 16 or 17 games.
Overall? I like it. More opportunity is indeed created, Mr. Hancock. More teams and fans will stay engaged. But more importantly the move will help this sport I love in the big picture.
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Mitch Vingle covered sports in West Virginia for 38 years. Follow Mitch on Twitter at @MitchVingle and be sure to check out the rest of Wheelhouse Creative’s website for your marketing and advertising needs. If interested, call us at 304-905-6005.