The Rose Bowl recently announced that they have reached an agreement allowing the College Football Playoff (CFP) to expand from four to 12 teams by 2024. The Rose Bowl was the last hurdle in allowing the move, as they have two years left on their contract for the right to host a bowl game. Fans of college football have long asked for the move and it has been long speculated by sports media, especially as the parody in the sport has grown more with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals allowing athletes to be paid for using their likeness, which has allowed more teams to be competitive. This move has caused players to transfer and go to smaller schools more often. We have seen schools like Texas A&M, University of Southern California, Texas, and others benefit from these moves. Teams like Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State are still powerhouses and dominant, but the competitiveness in the sport is the best it has been in an extremely long time.
If it was in place this year, teams like University of Southern California, Tennessee, and Kansas State would be in. Had this been implemented sooner, teams like the 2017-2018 University of Central Florida, 2014-2015 Texas Christian University, 2015-2016 Stanford, and 2016-2017 Oklahoma would have made the playoff in their respective seasons. While teams will play more games, which could increase the risk of injury, it would entice players not to sit out bowl games, as a national championship could be on the line. It will also give National Football League (NFL) scouts better evaluations of talent. Smaller schools from non-power-five conferences could play more prominent schools and possibly ball out.
With NIL deals and the expanded playoff, it would not be surprising if smaller schools, like James Madison University, University of Central Florida, Coastal Carolina, etc., made the playoff as a lower seed. Schools like Colorado, who just hired former Jackson State University coach Deion Sanders can benefit from the large transfer portal, NIL deals, and expanded playoffs. It would not be surprising if Colorado, a school that is fresh off of a 1–11 season, could quickly turn their program around and make the playoffs relatively soon.
College football fans grew tired of seeing the same four teams in the playoff each year. No matter what, it seemed that we would get Ohio State, Alabama, and whatever other Southeastern Conference or Big Ten school was doing well that year. This move will bring even more parody, competitiveness, and classic games. Ultimately this will heavily benefit college football for every Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) school, as it will give each school an even better shot at a national championship.
