2025 College Football Season

[NWI_Irish96]

This year may be the perfect year to go back to the one game championship. There's a clear #1 and #2. Just have TCU play Ohio State at one of the semifinal sites and repurpose the other semifinal game. It's too late now but it would work if they had this programmed from the start. Just have a provision if there are only two undefeated Power 5 schools, the NCAA Championship will be played between those two schools. Reinforces the NCAA Football slogan of "Every Game Counts."

TV $$$ says that will not happen. The Conferences wouldn't get as much $$$ without the playoff tournament, because they would have one less game airing in the inventory. "Every Game Counts?"  More like "Every $$$ Counts"  That is the NCAA slogan

Exactly why they are in a big hurry to grow the FBS Playoff Tournament to 12 teams, because extra tournament game inventory = more TV $$$

Precisely why it is an absolute farce any time they mention the term "Student-Athlete"

At most schools the concept of student-athlete was long gone before the TV $$$ got huge. Only at places like Northwestern, Stanford, Notre Dame, does the term still legitimately apply.

[hbelkins]

Conference tournaments would make far, far less money if the NCAA bid weren't on the line.

The SEC Tournament at a big venue is going to make money. Most of it from UK fans who travel to see the conference tourney games, as tickets are often easier to come by than home game tickets; there's a reason the phrase "blue gets in" is often heard in March.

The OVC Tournament in Evansville isn't going to be a money maker.

[NWI_Irish96]

Conference tournaments would make far, far less money if the NCAA bid weren't on the line.

The SEC Tournament at a big venue is going to make money. Most of it from UK fans who travel to see the conference tourney games, as tickets are often easier to come by than home game tickets; there's a reason the phrase "blue gets in" is often heard in March.

The OVC Tournament in Evansville isn't going to be a money maker.

ESPN pays the OVC a fair amount of money to televise the final, which they wouldn't do without an NCAA bid on the line.

[1995hoo]

I would argue that with conference expansion, the conference basketball tournaments are more relevant than they used to be for purposes of picking the conference champion, even with their importance otherwise being watered down by NCAA Tournament expansion. I'll use the ACC as an example because it's the one with which I'm most familiar due to having attended two ACC universities. The ACC used to play a double round-robin regular season–everyone played everyone else twice, home and away. That system lasted until 2004, when the league expanded to 11 teams (it now has 15), such that maintaining that schedule was unacceptable because it meant too many conference games (all the more so now, obviously). The conference schedule now has 20 games, but that's still not a double round-robin as that would require 28 games. Every team has two "primary rivals" where the two opponents meet twice every season (Duke and UNC being the best-known example). But even that in theory causes problems because some of those matchups are more difficult ones between teams that are usually powerhouses (Duke and UNC again being a good example, UNC's struggles the past few weeks notwithstanding) and others are between teams that are more inconsistent from year to year (Miami and VPI, for instance, or NC State and Wake Forest). So the unbalanced schedule theoretically creates a level of competitive imbalance by giving some teams an easier schedule and other teams a harder schedule in any given year, a problem from which the double round-robin didn't suffer because everyone played the exact same schedule.

So, in principle, the conference tournament is a far more valid way of deciding the league championship than may have been the case in the past. Dean Smith was adamant in his endless complaining about the ACC Tournament because he said the double round-robin was more meaningful, although I think his gripe was more sour grapes based on his teams not winning the tournament as often as they finished in first place (UNC has finished the regular season in first place 32 times but has "only" won the ACC championship 18 times, whereas Duke has finished in first place 20 times but has won the ACC championship 21 times). As a general matter, he was probably right about the double round-robin proving more of the course of a full season. But the tournament was part of league rules from the very beginning in 1953, so it was never going to go away.

[brad2971]

Conference tournaments would make far, far less money if the NCAA bid weren't on the line.

The SEC Tournament at a big venue is going to make money. Most of it from UK fans who travel to see the conference tourney games, as tickets are often easier to come by than home game tickets; there's a reason the phrase "blue gets in" is often heard in March.

The OVC Tournament in Evansville isn't going to be a money maker.

Even though the Summit League's HQ is in Sioux Falls, the only way either the Summit League mens/womens tournaments make any money (even after factoring ESPN2 broadcasting the men's final) is if either the USD Coyotes or the SDSU Jackrabbits are playing in those finals. Luckily for the Summit League, both the Coyotes and Jackrabbits have been fixtures in the men's and women's (especially the women's) finals the last few years.

[WillWeaverRVA]

Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach passed away last night after suffering a massive heart attack over the weekend. He was 61. MSU actually has a bowl game on January 2nd but I'm not sure it will be played now.

https://twitter.com/HailStateFB/status/1602664206389706755

[gr8daynegb]

Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach passed away last night after suffering a massive heart attack over the weekend. He was 61. MSU actually has a bowl game on January 2nd but I'm not sure it will be played now.

https://twitter.com/HailStateFB/status/1602664206389706755

Think they will play game in his honor I would think.  What better way as a tribute to him would be a bowl game win?

Whatever the athletes and school decide we should be okay with.  It's their team and coach

[skluth]

This year may be the perfect year to go back to the one game championship. There's a clear #1 and #2. Just have TCU play Ohio State at one of the semifinal sites and repurpose the other semifinal game. It's too late now but it would work if they had this programmed from the start. Just have a provision if there are only two undefeated Power 5 schools, the NCAA Championship will be played between those two schools. Reinforces the NCAA Football slogan of "Every Game Counts."

TV $$$ says that will not happen. The Conferences wouldn't get as much $$$ without the playoff tournament, because they would have one less game airing in the inventory. "Every Game Counts?"  More like "Every $$$ Counts"  That is the NCAA slogan

Exactly why they are in a big hurry to grow the FBS Playoff Tournament to 12 teams, because extra tournament game inventory = more TV $$$

Precisely why it is an absolute farce any time they mention the term "Student-Athlete"

I agree it's all about the money. Of course three televised tournament games will pay more than one tourney game and one of many other bowl games even if it's between #3 and #4. I just wish that this year it had been like the old setup where #1 plays #2 because they're the last two undefeated Power 5 teams.

[NWI_Irish96]

Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach passed away last night after suffering a massive heart attack over the weekend. He was 61. MSU actually has a bowl game on January 2nd but I'm not sure it will be played now.

https://twitter.com/HailStateFB/status/1602664206389706755

Think they will play game in his honor I would think.  What better way as a tribute to him would be a bowl game win?

Whatever the athletes and school decide we should be okay with.  It's their team and coach

I'd be OK with the team not wanting to play, but the game is one of the higher profile bowl games and it's too late to get a replacement. I don't know if there's any kind of contingency fund that exists to provide the bowl organizers with some money in case they lose their game.

[Roadgeekteen]

Tragic and sudden loss of one of the greats.

[gr8daynegb]

Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach passed away last night after suffering a massive heart attack over the weekend. He was 61. MSU actually has a bowl game on January 2nd but I'm not sure it will be played now.

https://twitter.com/HailStateFB/status/1602664206389706755

Think they will play game in his honor I would think.  What better way as a tribute to him would be a bowl game win?

Whatever the athletes and school decide we should be okay with.  It's their team and coach

I'd be OK with the team not wanting to play, but the game is one of the higher profile bowl games and it's too late to get a replacement. I don't know if there's any kind of contingency fund that exists to provide the bowl organizers with some money in case they lose their game.

For the covid year there was contingencies, but I believe that was more for the outside the higher profile bowls.  Being the game is 3 weeks away I'm almost certain they are playing (and this is the former athlete in me speaking) because how better to pay tribute to the man than to win a game for him.  It's understandable if they don't.  Big issue becomes all those that already paid for planes, hotels, tickets etc to go watch the game on how they get money back as depending on the path those people took their ability to get a refund may be difficult.

[Ted$8roadFan]

RIP Coach Leach. There is a great 60 Minutes segment from 2009 on what made him so unique.

[hbelkins]

Leach was an assistant for two years at UK under Hal Mumme. He made Tim Couch into the player he was.

Didn't some team back out of a bowl last year because of illness? That being said, I think they would play to honor Leach's memory.



Am I the only one bugged by this trend of players opting out of bowl games? Two of UK's best players (QB Will Levis and RB Chris Rodriguez) announced they don't plan to play in the Music City Bowl.

I'm not a fan of this at all. Way to be a team player [/sarcasm]

[thspfc]

Leach was an assistant for two years at UK under Hal Mumme. He made Tim Couch into the player he was.

Didn't some team back out of a bowl last year because of illness? That being said, I think they would play to honor Leach's memory.



Am I the only one bugged by this trend of players opting out of bowl games? Two of UK's best players (QB Will Levis and RB Chris Rodriguez) announced they don't plan to play in the Music City Bowl.

I'm not a fan of this at all. Way to be a team player [/sarcasm]

From a fan's perspective it indeed sucks, but from a player's perspective, it's the logical choice if you're going to be a relatively high draft pick. No sense in risking injury, and millions of dollars, in a game that will at best marginally improve your draft stock.

[NWI_Irish96]

Leach was an assistant for two years at UK under Hal Mumme. He made Tim Couch into the player he was.

Didn't some team back out of a bowl last year because of illness? That being said, I think they would play to honor Leach's memory.



Am I the only one bugged by this trend of players opting out of bowl games? Two of UK's best players (QB Will Levis and RB Chris Rodriguez) announced they don't plan to play in the Music City Bowl.

I'm not a fan of this at all. Way to be a team player [/sarcasm]

From a fan's perspective it indeed sucks, but from a player's perspective, it's the logical choice if you're going to be a relatively high draft pick. No sense in risking injury, and millions of dollars, in a game that will at best marginally improve your draft stock.

From a coach's standpoint it's nice because it's more playing time for guys who will be there next year.

[gr8daynegb]

Leach was an assistant for two years at UK under Hal Mumme. He made Tim Couch into the player he was.

Didn't some team back out of a bowl last year because of illness? That being said, I think they would play to honor Leach's memory.



Am I the only one bugged by this trend of players opting out of bowl games? Two of UK's best players (QB Will Levis and RB Chris Rodriguez) announced they don't plan to play in the Music City Bowl.

I'm not a fan of this at all. Way to be a team player [/sarcasm]

From a fan's perspective it indeed sucks, but from a player's perspective, it's the logical choice if you're going to be a relatively high draft pick. No sense in risking injury, and millions of dollars, in a game that will at best marginally improve your draft stock.

From a coach's standpoint it's nice because it's more playing time for guys who will be there next year.

And if you are that starters backup it's your chance to get noticed right now instead of waiting until next season.  Or at worst the extra practices one spot up the depth chart can't hurt

[CtrlAltDel]

I'd be OK with the team not wanting to play, but the game is one of the higher profile bowl games and it's too late to get a replacement. I don't know if there's any kind of contingency fund that exists to provide the bowl organizers with some money in case they lose their game.

Is the ReliaQuest Bowl really one of the higher profile bowl games?

[WillWeaverRVA]

In any event the players apparently want to play, so it's a moot point.

[NWI_Irish96]

I'd be OK with the team not wanting to play, but the game is one of the higher profile bowl games and it's too late to get a replacement. I don't know if there's any kind of contingency fund that exists to provide the bowl organizers with some money in case they lose their game.

Is the ReliaQuest Bowl really one of the higher profile bowl games?

It's been a Jan 1 game for a long time.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I'd be OK with the team not wanting to play, but the game is one of the higher profile bowl games and it's too late to get a replacement. I don't know if there's any kind of contingency fund that exists to provide the bowl organizers with some money in case they lose their game.

Is the ReliaQuest Bowl really one of the higher profile bowl games?

It's been a Jan 1 game for a long time.

Better formerly known as the Outback Bowl.

[Big John]

I'd be OK with the team not wanting to play, but the game is one of the higher profile bowl games and it's too late to get a replacement. I don't know if there's any kind of contingency fund that exists to provide the bowl organizers with some money in case they lose their game.

Is the ReliaQuest Bowl really one of the higher profile bowl games?

It's been a Jan 1 game for a long time.

Better formerly known as the Outback Bowl.

And before they sold out, it was the Hall of Fame Bowl.

[triplemultiplex]

Seems like every year, I think I've heard the stupidest bowl name ever and there's no way there will be a dumber name, but every year, they top themselves.

Used to be the name of the bowl gave you some idea where it was being played.  Orange Bowl? Florida.  Peach Bowl? Georgia.  Fiesta Bowl? Arizona. Rose Bowl? Uh, maybe at the stadium with that name?
But where the hell is the RederpaQuest Bowl? 

[gr8daynegb]

I'd be OK with the team not wanting to play, but the game is one of the higher profile bowl games and it's too late to get a replacement. I don't know if there's any kind of contingency fund that exists to provide the bowl organizers with some money in case they lose their game.

Is the ReliaQuest Bowl really one of the higher profile bowl games?

It's been a Jan 1 game for a long time.

Better formerly known as the Outback Bowl.

And before they sold out, it was the Hall of Fame Bowl.

So more or less the ReliaQuest Bowl is a mid-tier bowl game. 

[hbelkins]

I find it ironic that Tennessee and Clemson, two teams with orange as their color, are playing in the Orange Bowl.

[amroad17]

I'd be OK with the team not wanting to play, but the game is one of the higher profile bowl games and it's too late to get a replacement. I don't know if there's any kind of contingency fund that exists to provide the bowl organizers with some money in case they lose their game.

Is the ReliaQuest Bowl really one of the higher profile bowl games?

It's been a Jan 1 game for a long time.

Better formerly known as the Outback Bowl.

And before they sold out, it was the Hall of Fame Bowl.

So more or less the ReliaQuest Bowl is a mid-tier bowl game.

Yes, much like the Gator Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl are now.

The Outback Bowl, now the ReliaQuest Bowl is played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.