The Wise Dudes have previously preached for an expanded playoff system in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. You can read that article here https://wisedudesports.com/fbs-12-team-playoff. Expansion is not only needed to give more teams a deserving chance at ultimate glory. It is also needed to generate excitement to what can only be described as a lackluster college football postseason. The bowl system does not generate enough excitement following the college football regular season where week to week every game is so crucial. Top players are commonly skipping out on “meaningless” bowl games in order to prepare for their professional careers. Star power in college football is becoming a noteworthy issue when the calendar flips to December and the trend will only get worse. Some argue that the thrilling regular season is driven by the fact that only four teams get a shot to compete in a playoff game. Changes to the system will not hinder this, it will only enhance it. More teams will be in contention for a playoff spot in a legitimate tournament. Seeding will become incredibly important. This is the norm during every sport’s regular season. Expansion is needed, and monetary incentives should also be implemented for players playing the game.
Unless you are a betting man, or a pure college football enthusiast, chances are you will not tune into the majority of the bowl season which commenced December 15th. Only one team from any of the “power 5” conferences played a game until December 22nd. Showcasing none of your top teams is no way to begin postseason play. Expansion would pave a path for early quarter-final games to complement the smaller bowl games and generate more interest. The system needs more than expansion. All bowl games (including playoff games) should be backed by monetary incentives for each player based on revenue generated. This will be aimed to increase the competitiveness and preparedness of the teams involved. The hope is that it will also slow momentum to the notion that players need to sit out bowl games. Star power often generates interest and fans are starting to see more of them take the consolation game off. This perception is not one that sponsors, athletic directors, or commissioners want for their cherished bowl system. Big time players sitting out, make not-so-interesting bowl games less interesting. Change is hard to implement for a sport that has been ingrained to think one way is the only way to reward every team that wins 6+ games. Change is needed. Otherwise the FBS will be stuck in a universe where the postseason trends toward oblivion aside from 3 games. A universe where big programs will always be aligned with big money-making bowl games.
Due to conference alignment, top bowl games at spectacular venues tend to be associated with blue-blood programs. This leaves the remaining smaller fish limited in their postseason options. This problem lurks behind the scenes as college football faces an onslaught of critics in the form of expansion and star players continuing to sit out. There is a sense of elitism that has always been around in college football but has now come to the forefront. The postseason does not always generate the excitement or competitiveness that fans witness in the regular season. Avid fan bases from big programs carry the mantle in December as they guarantee at least a steady influx of their popular fan bases for advertisers. Companies and programs want to spend their money and capital into a sound investment. A team, without the avid following of the blue-blood programs, are out-manned in this market. Money talks and the bowl season is a true representation of this. The revenue generated should continue to be dispersed to those who are putting on the event. Additionally, it should also be given to the players who are on the field earning it. Players who are not playing a top 4 playoff game are coming to the realization that they do not have any reason to play in a game that does not carry any weight past the 48 minutes on the field. The games that fill up our appetite until the three that truly matter have to be spiced up to continue postseason success for the college game. Fighting off elitism is a battle that will take course over a long period of time. A recognition of the problem as well as playoff expansion will be a solid start to take charge on this issue.
A logical path lies ahead for a revamped postseason at the highest level of college football. It should be centered on shortening the regular season and extending the postseason to give more teams an earned chance. Every major sports league or institution has a successful playoff where a championship is earned by playing for it. Too often December and January college football, provides minimal opportunity and meaningless games. Top players do not see any upside to playing in these games and it is hurting the overall bowl landscape. Change was ushered in following the BCS system, where fans saw two of the top teams play in a National Championship game based on computer simulations. The playoff featuring the top 4 is a monumental upgrade from that single-minded era but more expansive changes will be needed to thwart problems that threaten the whole postseason as we know it.