Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE
When the conference commissioners presented a playoff plan approved by conference commissioners in June, college football’s worshippers rejoiced in prayers answered. Now, with the same suits meeting to discuss the finer points of revenue sharing and academics (right) near Chicago, tweaks are in order. This is necessary because a college football playoff has existed for around three months on paper and is therefore overdue for an overhaul.
The altering of the initial format (two semifinals rotated among six bowl sites and a national championship bid out) may allow inclusion of a seventh bowl. The motivation is access for teams outside of the five dominant conferences (SEC, Pac 12, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC) and let’s call it what it is, throwing the Big East a bone. The latter was marginalized in the last round of realignment and figures to earn less in television money than their re-upping counterparts. But an addition of another playoff bowl site means a tangible postseason destination is in place for a conference without a pre-ordained one (Big 12-SEC: Champions Bowl, Pac 12-Big Ten: Rose Bowl, ACC: Orange Bowl).
Aside from the two semifinals, the other four to five sites will host the types of games the normal second-tier bowls house. If that’s a #10 vs. #15 clash then it’s more than likely watchable. And because it’s a high-profile contest, ESPN or whichever network wins the broadcasting rights should pay more. That last part, the World Wide Leader ponying excess cash, actually makes more sense than the conference commissioners waxing poetic about Big East access.
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Chris Hengst is a College Football writer at Rant Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @ShootyHoops.
