EDIT: 11/30/22. This is an old thread that has been bumped by another poster with additional news that the playoffs will expand to 12.
Playoff expansion update. Sounds like it could get done in time for 2024 and it will likely be 12 if it does. 8 team would only involve the NY6 bowls and ESPN already owns the rights to those so it wouldn't be enough to get more money. Expansion to 12 gets out that issue. Also sounds like ESPN would have right of first refusal and chance to give the best offer but no need for extension of the contract, which is what I always found strange when it was brought up reporters. Why would a new package of games lead to an extension of a contract. You could line up the new package deal to coincide with the current playoff deal and then in 2025-26 have it all come out to bid. I hope they can get it done for the 2024 season.
When it comes to College Football Playoff expansion, the odds are stacked against eight ever being enough.
apnews.com
The Associated Press spoke with several people involved with or familiar with expansion talks before and after last week’s CFP management committee meeting in Illinois to gauge where things stand and where they are heading. Most of the people spoke only on condition of anonymity to allow executive director Bill Hancock to be the sole public voice for the closely watched process.
Two things are clear: A 12-team playoff is still the most likely outcome when the event expands. And there is still a good amount of optimism that consensus can be reached in time to implement a new format for the 2024 season.
“I’m confident we can,” a person involved in the discussions said.
An eight-team format could alleviate concerns about the length of the season and disruption of the academic calendar, but it is also fraught with issues — including a big one that could cost the CFP a shot at at hundreds of millions of dollars sooner rather than later:
While the playoff is thought of as a three-game event — two semifinals and the championship game — ESPN pays about $600 million per year for a seven-game package: the three that determine the national champion, plus four New Year’s Six bowls.
An eight-team playoff would fit within the existing seven-game structure, turning four bowl games that currently have no impact on the crowning of a national champion into four more valuable quarterfinals. The problem is that ESPN would not be contractually obligated to increase its rights fee to broadcast them, according to a person familiar with the agreement between ESPN and the CFP. (ESPN through a spokesman declined a request for comment by the AP.)
Because eight doesn’t create new games, there would be no way for the CFP to bring aboard new TV partners — and their millions — before the end of the contract with ESPN.
There has been concern that ESPN’s contract gives the network exclusivity to any new inventory before the deal expires, though CFP officials and those they consult with say that is not the case.
ESPN would get first crack at landing the new games, but the CFP would not be contractually bound to accept the network’s offer, according to multiple people familiar with the process.
If ESPN’s offer for the expanded playoff inventory for 2024 and ’25 was best, the CFP would be obligated to accept, but it wouldn’t prevent the new format from being brought to market after the original 12-year deal expires.
Hancock has said commissioners would
have to agree within the next four months for a new playoff format to be implemented by 2024. The deadline is tied to the need to pick sites and dates for the ’24 and ’25 championship games.
Otherwise, expansion will come in 2026.
The clock is to ticking, but maybe that’s a good thing.
“Sometimes with these big sea change ideas,” that first person said, “it doesn’t happen until it has to happen.”
The Alliance that began as an understandable objection to SEC/ESPN domination is starting to veer into undercutting its own self-interest.
sports.yahoo.com
The Alliance has somewhat cast ESPN as the bully and stood on the table for multiple media partners to buy into the next iteration of the playoff. But it’s understood that ESPN is likely to play ball with bringing in a second partner because it doesn’t want to lose everything when the current contract ends after the 2025 regular season. (Much like CBS did in fumbling the SEC by not playing ball in the short term and getting shut out.)
The College Football Playoff has been using two consultants to guide it through the process. The early projections for the expanded 11-game format are intriguing.
“I think, frankly, when we start taking a look at the numbers, the numbers are astronomical,” said one person involved in the process. "I think the presidents believe that we need to have an auction [for media rights]. I think it would be in our best interest to have at least two, three [or more] different groups bidding on this.”
The momentum for an eight-team playoff is dead, as the Associated Press’ Ralph Russo reported this week. The momentum for a 12-team event is coming, as soon as the crew of new commissioners stops stepping on each other’s toes and starts looking at common sense.
rutgers.rivals.com
