College football played a losing hand on New Year’s Eve and lost.
On Saturday, January 2, there was no NFL. There was an
entire day for a nation to watch college football. They did, but they watched
the Alamo Bowl* instead of the Orange Bowl. ESPN knew – they practically
begged the college football leaders to move the playoffs back to Jan. 2 to
no avail. The decision was stupid, but the rationale was stupider.
*How good were TV ratings on January 2?? The Gator Bowl had more viewers than the Peach Bowl.
*How good were TV ratings on January 2?? The Gator Bowl had more viewers than the Peach Bowl.
New Year’s Eve fell on a Thursday this year. Moving the
semifinals to Saturday, Jan. 2, had been described as a “quirk”
in the calendar. It is not a quirk. Thursday is a day of the week and New
Year’s Eve has to fall on a day of the week. New Year’s Eve on a Thursday
happens roughly every 6 years – how is that a quirk?
You see, by simply following the calendar – and not set
cycles – the New Year’s Six bowls can maximize attention, keep the Rose and
Sugar Bowls happy and stay true to current contracts. In fact, the New Year’s
Six can play out the next TEN years
and only play once on a non-holiday New Year’s Eve. I swear!
How? Let’s begin by going through the days of the week and
what should happen:
The Set-Up
New Year’s Eve on Thursday (2020)
Play semifinals on
Saturday, Jan. 2
This is the scenario we just lived through and let’s hope we
never have to live through it again. Saturday, January 2, will be there and
open by the time New Year’s Eve cycles back to a Thursday.
New Year’s Eve on Friday (2021)
Play semifinals on Friday,
Dec. 31
Thanks to 2016 being a leap year, New Year’s Eve won’t fall
on a Friday until the 2021 season. This is a disappointment since this is the
only scenario where New Year’s Eve is an actual federal holiday.
New Year’s Eve on Saturday (2016, 2022)
Play semifinals on
Saturday, Dec. 31
This happens for the 2016 season and it is not a problem. In
fact, the only issue might be whether ESPN schedules the bigger game in the
afternoon slot for maximum exposure. The night game will go against New Year’s
parties on the East Coast, but is far less of an issue on a Saturday.
New Year’s Eve on Sunday (2017, 2023)
Play semifinals on
Saturday, Dec. 30
This is the dream scenario! The NFL takes on New Year’s Eve,
leaving Saturday, Dec. 30, wide open as a perfect day for the semifinals and no
issue with leaving the other games on New Year’s Day.
Of course, since college football leaders are not smart, the
2017 season is one where the Rose and Sugar are slated to host the playoffs.
Let me repeat – in a year where college football cannot play games on New
Year’s Eve, the semifinals are scheduled for New Year’s Day. Changing the games
for this date solves just about everything.
New Year’s Eve on Monday (2018)
Play semifinal on Monday,
Dec. 31
Of all the weekday New Year’s Eve possibilities, Monday is the
least objectionable since most will make it a four-day weekend. Still, it is
not a legal holiday and would best to avoid if possible in the future.
New Year’s Eve on Tuesday (2019, 2024) or Wednesday
(2025)
Play semifinals on
Jan. 1
Simply put, this cannot happen. You think the ratings were
bad this year? Wait until a playoff game starts at 4pm on a Tuesday. The same
applies for a New Year’s Eve on a Wednesday.
The Solution
College football has 10 years left on the current New Year’s
Six contract and, despite the bad ratings in 2015, I can’t see anything
changing until these 12 years are up. Sorry, folks, who want a 16-team playoff.
Here’s the new schedule, as 2016 does not change, with semifinal
games in bold.
2017
Saturday, Dec. 30: Peach, Orange, Cotton
Monday, Jan. 1: Fiesta, Rose, Sugar
2018
Monday, Dec. 31: Cotton, Peach, Fiesta
Tuesday, Jan. 1: Orange, Rose, Sugar
2019
Tuesday, Dec. 31: Cotton, Fiesta, Orange
Wednesday, Jan. 1: Peach, Rose, Sugar
2020
Friday, Jan. 1: Peach, Rose, Sugar
Saturday, Jan. 2: Fiesta, Orange, Cotton
2021
Friday, Dec. 31: Orange, Peach, Fiesta
Saturday, Jan 1: Cotton, Rose, Sugar
2022
Saturday, Dec. 31: Fiesta, Orange, Cotton
Monday, Jan. 2: Peach, Rose, Sugar
2023
Saturday, Dec. 30: Cotton, Peach, Fiesta
Monday, Jan. 1: Orange, Rose, Sugar
2024
Monday, Dec. 31: Peach, Fiesta, Orange
Tuesday, Jan. 1: Cotton, Rose, Sugar
2025
Tuesday, Dec. 31: Peach, Orange, Cotton
Wednesday, Jan. 1: Fiesta, Rose, Sugar
The Recap
With this schedule, the college football semifinals are
played a grand total of one time on a non-holiday New Year’s Eve, in 2018.
Instead, the semifinals are played three times on New Year’s
Day, three times on regular Saturdays (Dec. 30 or Jan. 2) and three times on holiday
New Year’s Eve (Friday or Saturday).
In a perfect world, college football moves the semifinals to
New Year’s Day permanently. But we do not live in a perfect world, so this is
the next best thing.
Will those who run college football cut fans a break?
This would work, so it'll never happen.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, this is brilliant. Im stuck fighting with the wife every year instead.
DeleteSo the Rose/Sugar gets the semis in back-to-back years? And gets them only one more time before 2024?? That's the fly in the ointment I think
ReplyDeletePersonally, I doubt the Rose Bowl cares too much about when they host. Ditto for the Sugar Bowl. They have great TV contracts.
DeleteAnd for the other games, i think they would enjoy not having to face having their big semi kick off at 4pm on a Tuesday.
Thanks for reading.
Damn dude, I love this
ReplyDeleteI think they should play the semifinals game on-campus in mid-December, so the title game is either the Rose Bowl or a rotating game on New Year's Night. Enough with this New Year's Eve bullshit.
ReplyDeleteSomeone make sure Bill Hancock reads this!!!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't find an email for him, but I did tweet at his account. Seems like he might run it himself, so fingers crossed.
DeleteThis is a great idea.
ReplyDelete