CFP Gameday for iOS provides live scores, game information, social hype and a comprehensive overview of the all-new CFP. The app contains good resources for fans and game attendees, and while its functionality works, it is not yet a must-have product. With a captivated, connected audience, the app could offer a lot more interactivity with the on-air broadcast and event-goers, making it more compelling for fans. The app covers the CFP semifinal games -- the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl for this season -- and the National Championship, with identical features for all three games. Developed by SportsLabs, a Silver Chalice company, CFP Gameday is an ad-supported free download. This review was conducted on an iPhone 5 version 8.1.2, as well as an iPad 2 version 8.1. The app's features are the same on both platforms.
TOUCHDOWNS: The app has a fresh look offering a gameday stream from Twitter and Instagram. During last night’s big win for Ohio State, the hashtag #UOvsOSU was used to populate the feed. The feed effectively tells a glamorous story of the game in pictures, capturing key moments on and off the field. A gameday map shows points of interest around the stadium, and a fan guide -- one of the more useful features -- presents ticket information, hotel accommodations and in-app ticketing touch points for ancillary events like the Extra Yard 5K. Fans can purchase game merchandise within the app, too. The Gamecenter feature includes play-by-play, as well as team and player stats in text form during the live game. It also offers AP recaps of past games with scores, play-by-play and stats. Also very convenient is a section filled with information about the CFP containing things like detailed bios of selection committee members and downloadable PDFs of rankings. This is a nice companion product for those interested in learning more about the event while they watch.
TURNOVERS: Worst things first, a promotional pop up for ticket packages takes over the screen every so often. This needs to be limited to once per session at most, and then shut off during and after games. The app contains a lot of good information that is well organized, but there is some info-overlap that should be cleaned up. Once the navigation menu is opened, users cannot swipe back to the screen they were on. They must select an option to return to browsing the app. While I like the look of the social media “grid” on an iPad, I would prefer to see larger images -- each spanning the width of the screen -- on the iPhone. The play-by-play feed is not super detailed, missing things at times, including a big fumble in the first few minutes of last night's game. Suggestions for future releases include fan polls, action-based rewards and a little more interactivity around the gameday features.
FINAL SCORE: Why download this app? To purchase tickets, get gameday venue information, view scores and live play-by-play and learn more about the selection committee and format. Comparatively speaking, the app’s gameday features -- social feed and live stats -- are average, but being that the event is in its first year, the app does provide a lot of good information for college football fans and leaves itself room for improvement. There is not yet enough feedback in iTunes to constitute a rating. I give the app 2 stars.
Amie Sheridan (amie.sheridan31@gmail.com) is a freelance writer in Philadelphia.
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