In a 24-team College Football Playoff (CFP) world, the bowl system is set to undergo a significant transformation. The idea, gaining traction among power conferences, involves pooling the best teams left out of the CFP and placing them in a tiered bowl system. This proposal, discussed at the ACC spring meetings, aims to provide flexibility and promote the best matchups, taking into account geography and historical context.
Nick Carparelli, Bowl Season executive director, believes this is a great idea. He explains that even with the expanded CFP, only half of the bowl-eligible institutions from the Power 4 conferences would be included. By including the next group of teams that missed the Playoff, the system could offer exciting games that complement the CFP and fill time slots between rounds.
The plan involves each of the four leagues supplying five bowl-eligible teams, totaling 20 teams, to the top 10 non-CFP bowls. However, the selection process and which bowls will participate remain uncertain. The conferences will determine the bowls, considering factors like payouts, location, and history.
Last year's CFP rankings indicate that the Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC would have had at least five teams, while the SEC would have sent three. The remaining spots could go to bowl-eligible teams from the ACC, Big Ten, or even five-win SEC squads. This proposal aims to create a more inclusive and flexible bowl system.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the CFP field, the bowls' health remains strong. Eight non-CFP bowls attracted over 4 million viewers last winter, with the Citrus and Pop-Tarts Bowls leading the way. However, Carparelli highlights the interest in games featuring teams that didn't make the CFP, like the Pinstripe Bowl between Penn State and Clemson, which generated 7.6 million viewers.
The bowl system is expected to adapt to the market's demands. With a larger Playoff, there's a possibility of a reduced bowl system. Carparelli suggests that the market will dictate the future of the bowls, and they will be ready to respond to the changing landscape of college football.
