The CFP is "concerned about talk of NFL Playoffs expansion and what impact it could have on next year's college football championship date and time slot," according to George Schroeder of USA TODAY. NFL owners during their meeting in March will examine a proposal "to expand their playoffs by two teams," thus meaning there would be "six Wild Card round games rather than four." Reports have one of those extra games being played "on a Monday night." That would result in some years, including '16, in one Wild Card game being played the "same night" as the CFP title game. CFP Exec Dir Bill Hancock said, "We thought Monday night was open, and we thought it was a great night for us. I would just hate to see people have to make a decision." He added that the CFP officials "have communicated their concerns to the NFL" (USA TODAY, 1/16).
INDY SPIRIT? In Indianapolis, Mark Alesia reports the Indiana Sports Corp. on Wednesday gave "no formal announcement of a bid" for the CFP National Championship from '18-20. ISC President Ryan Vaughn said that when mulling a bid, the organization "will consider the city's event calendar, including conventions, and return on investment, including media exposure." Vaughn: "It's certainly an event that has great media exposure and high community impact. But we have to evaluate whether it's the right event at the right time. ... I wouldn't want to leave anyone with the impression that we (definitely) are bidding." He added, "It's foreseeable that the timing of this event could coincide with a Colts football home (playoff) game, and that might present some logistical challenges or additional costs for us to consider." Alesia noted competition for future games "will likely be strong, including possible bids from Atlanta and Minneapolis" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/15). Also in Indianapolis, Anthony Schoettle wrote the city "appears poised to bid for the massive event in the not-too-distant future." While ISC and city officials "have not announced a definitive decision regarding the city's bid plans," it is "difficult to imagine a scenario where Indianapolis doesn't bid for the event" (IBJ.com, 1/14).
GREAT SUCCESS! Reviews of the inaugural CFP continue to roll in, and ESPN’s J.A. Adande said Ohio State winning the national championship was a “validation of this system," as the Buckeyes were "rewarded” for playing well at the end of the season. Adande: "More importantly, it gave them the opportunity to peak at the end of the season.” Adande said the new playoff system “was as good as advertised because it gave us unpredictability, it gave us teams winning it on merit and not based on computers.” Adande: “The committee got it right.” The N.Y. Daily News’ Frank Isola said the playoffs “worked out perfectly” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 1/13). Ohio State DT Michael Bennett said, "The No. 4 team just won the national championship. ... If we didn't have the College Football Playoff, you wouldn't have realized how good a team we became at the end of the season. I think this is a great idea" (SI, 1/19 issue). Univ. of Cincinnati coach and newly elected AFCA President Tommy Tuberville said, "For the first year of a playoff, it was a success. We'd all like a last-second field goal but that's not going to happen every year" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 1/14). The N.Y. Daily News’ Andy Martino said, “It captured people's attention." N.Y. Daily News' Pat Leonard: “I can't see how it won't be expanded in the future because of how big of a success it was this year” (“Daily News Live,” SNY, 1/13). In Utah, Doug Robinson wrote, "Civilization is complete. We have finally arrived." He added, "Let history show that on Jan. 12, 2015, the first playoff championship game was held," and it was "like Lindy landing in Paris." Robinson: "Someday people will laugh at us, the same way they laughed at people who used to think if you walked far enough you’d fall off the edge of the world" (DESERET NEWS, 1/14).
A STEP UP, BUT NOT THE END-ALL BE-ALL: In L.A., Chris Dufresne wrote the four-team playoff "pumped adrenaline into a sport that needed it" and also "shined perspective on 16 years of championships decreed by cockeyed computers and cronyism." The CFP selection committee was a "vast improvement over a system of polls and trolls." But Dufresne wondered if the playoff looked "so good because the BCS was so bad." He also asked how much further "do we need to extend this conversation?" Eight teams "would be more equitable, but would it tamper with the delicate fabric of college football's electric regular season?" Dufresne: "Very little went wrong in the playoff's first year, but could it be like a baseball player hitting a home run in his first at bat and never hitting another?" (L.A. TIMES, 1/14). ESPN’s Bomani Jones said, “People want a playoff and this was cool but it’s not like we got a string of great games. ... I don’t feel like this was just like, ‘Oh my God, what we’ve been waiting for.’” ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan added, “You’re still held a little bit hostage by these bowls and when is that ever going to stop?” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 1/13).
GOOD FOR THEM: A USA TODAY editorial stated the CFP "is here to stay, and probably will expand," but the playoff's success "raises new questions as a financial windfall turns college football into pro football by another name." Television networks are "making a mint," coaches are "pulling in obscene sums" and bowl associations are "living large." All of them "owe some of their fortune to the low labor costs for people who matter most: the players." Several solutions were presented of what can be done "short of putting the players on payroll." First, scholarships "that cover every aspect of attending college, including incidental costs," can be offered. Second, colleges must start "treating concussions as seriously as does the NFL" to "take better care of players." Next, the NCAA should "shorten the season." Finally, players should be able to "finish their degrees, or take more rigorous courses, for free once their playing eligibility expires" (USA TODAY, 1/14).
