Over a recent casual dinner, a conversation among college sports power brokers sparked a significant reevaluation of the college football postseason. The traditional bowl games, once considered untouchable, are now facing an identity crisis. With the expansion of the College Football Playoff and changing player attitudes, the future of bowl season hangs in the balance.

Redefining College Football's Postseason Amidst Uncertainty

Section 1: The Erosion of Bowl Game Tradition

In this fall's dinner discussion, a venerable power broker turned the tables, asking about the future of the college football postseason. It became evident that despite decades of accommodating the bowl industry, a disturbance in the force was brewing. Over the years, schools and conferences dutifully participated in bowls, believing in their necessity. However, the increasing number of players opting out or transferring has led to decreased enthusiasm from fans. As one dinner companion noted with anonymity due to sensitivity, "It's not sustainable. Is it really a reward when people don't want to play?" This realization has opened the door to a reimagining of bowl season.

Section 2: The Impact of the College Football Playoff Expansion

The creation of the College Football Playoff a decade ago changed the nature and interest in the postseason. With the playoff now expanded to 12 or potentially more teams, the prestige of non-CFP bowls has further diminished. Marshall's withdrawal from the Dec. 28 Independence Bowl due to a lack of available players highlighted the challenges. School officials cited concerns for the health and safety of their student athletes. This incident sparked discussions among conference commissioners about how to reform the system. The timing is ripe for change, as all current agreements expire in 2026 and the playoff is likely to expand further.

Section 3: Solutions for a Sustainable Postseason

Nick Carparelli, the executive director of Bowl Season, believes there are solutions to the postseason dilemma. He suggests changing the timing of the transfer portal, tying player revenue sharing compensation to postseason participation, and making bowl payouts fluctuate based on player availability. Additionally, creating more flexibility in matchup selection and making it punitive for schools to pull out of bowls after agreeing to play could help. However, the push and pull between the bowl system and schools/conferences remains a challenge. Schools are facing budget pressures, and fans are growing less interested in non-playoff bowl games.

Section 4: The Sticky Situation for Bowl Operators

Carparelli's primary job is advocating for the bowls, which has been relatively easy in the past. But now, with changing attitudes and financial pressures, the situation is more complex. Schools are required to buy large blocks of tickets when they participate in bowls, often resulting in financial losses. The bowls have passed the risk on to the schools, and there is a need to generate more value. The push and pull between the bowl system and those seeking reforms will be closely watched in 2025.

Section 5: The Need for Bold Decisions

It's clear that change is coming to college football's postseason. Administrators are open to a different world for postseason games outside of the playoff. As one person close to the process said, "We need to stop making excuses and take bold steps to fix it." Whether it's reimagining bowl games as exhibitions or scrimmages or finding a new way to structure the postseason, decisions must be made in the best interest of the sport. Any change will require a give and take, but a sustainable system is achievable.