With just one game remaining to conclude the 2024-25 college football season, it is clear that the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff has been a resounding success. While there are some minor issues that need attention, the overall format change has been a positive development for the sport. The increased number of teams in Playoff contention in the final month of the season led to more engaging and meaningful games played each Saturday. The traditional spirited debates over which teams should secure the final spots in the bracket continued, creating excitement among fans. Moreover, the expansion to 11 CFP games, including four played in lively campus atmospheres, added to the overall excitement of the postseason.
The interest in college football remained strong throughout the season, with regular-season games drawing over 9 million viewers each. The first-round CFP games averaged 10.6 million viewers, the quarterfinals averaged 16.9 million, and the semifinals averaged 19.2 million viewers, even with games played on Thursday and Friday nights. The anticipation for the national championship matchup on Monday night, featuring traditional powerhouses Notre Dame and Ohio State, is expected to draw a massive audience.
It is worth noting that neither championship contender enters the game undefeated. Notre Dame suffered an early-season loss to Northern Illinois but rebounded to win 13 consecutive games to reach the title game, while Ohio State fell to their rival at the end of the regular season but secured a spot in the CFP nonetheless.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day praised the new format for allowing teams to grow and improve throughout the season. He highlighted how losses serve as learning opportunities for both coaches and players to address and rectify issues as the season progresses, ultimately benefiting the team and the sport as a whole.
CFP Executive Director Rich Clark echoed the sentiment of success, noting that the event met its objectives by featuring the best teams competing for the championship as envisioned by the commissioner.
Despite initial concerns that the expanded format might diminish the significance of the regular season, the competitive nature of games and the high stakes maintained the excitement for fans. Clark described the regular season as one of the best in recent memory, filled with meaningful matchups and thrilling moments that culminated in a successful Playoff.
Looking ahead, Clark mentioned that conference commissioners overseeing the CFP will assess the selection and seeding processes, as well as potential adjustments to game sites during the offseason. While there may be some tweaks before the 2025-26 season, significant changes might not occur until the following season.
In the world of college football, discussions are underway among the sport’s key decision-makers to evaluate the significance of conference championship games moving forward. This topic has sparked debate, particularly regarding the seeding structure for the top four teams in the playoffs.
Critics argue that the current practice of automatically reserving these top seed lines for conference champions may have led to an imbalance in this year’s bracket. For instance, Boise State and Arizona State, ranked ninth and 12th respectively by the CFP selection committee, were seeded higher than their actual rankings would suggest. This resulted in potentially stronger at-large teams like Notre Dame and Ohio State being placed lower in the bracket. The unexpected elimination of top seed Oregon by the Buckeyes in the quarterfinal round further amplified concerns over the seeding discrepancies.
While the seeding issue may have arisen organically, recent conference realignments have exacerbated the situation. The original bracket concept, including the conference championship requirement, was proposed before major shifts such as Texas and Oklahoma’s move to the SEC and the Big Ten’s expansion to include several West Coast schools like Oregon. Consequently, conferences like the Big Ten and SEC now command more at-large spots due to the strength of their teams, affecting the overall balance of the bracket.
Despite these challenges, the new playoff format has received positive feedback in other areas. Notably, the decision to host first-round games on campus garnered praise for creating electric atmospheres and enhancing the fan experience. This success has sparked discussions about potentially moving future quarterfinal games away from traditional bowl sites to college campuses as well.
Reflecting on the inaugural 12-team Playoff, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian commended the overall experience, highlighting the excitement of hosting games at Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium and the valuable bowl game opportunities for players. While acknowledging room for improvement, Sarkisian emphasized the positive start to this new era in college football playoffs.
Indeed, the college football landscape is known for its complexities and controversies, but at its core, the playoff system champions on-field competition as the ultimate decider of the national champion. By allowing the best teams to battle it out directly, the sport shifts away from subjective rankings and embraces a true test of skill and determination, round by round.
As the college football community navigates these ongoing discussions and adjustments, the essence of competition and the pursuit of excellence remain at the forefront. The passion and dedication of players, coaches, and fans fuel the excitement of the sport, serving as a constant reminder that amidst the debates and uncertainties, the game itself is what truly matters.
