As talk of College Football Playoff expansion continues to heat up, the potential for a field that includes 16 teams going forward is very real. But is that the right move?
Some have argued that a further increase to the playoff field, especially so soon after the field moved from four teams to 12 teams, might jeopardize the sport. It could dilute the product.
ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum doesn’t think so. He just doesn’t.
“I think there is (concern) but ultimately, Greg, we see this in the NFL and not one less person watches the playoffs,” Finebaum said on the McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning show. “In fact, significantly more people at times, maybe one and a half to two times the amount.”
While viewership isn’t the lone metric by which the sport should be judged, it’s an important one. TV ratings drive revenue, which makes the whole system spin.
More games could undoubtedly lead to more TV inventory, if not also better inventory. That means more money in the coffers.
But what about the games themselves? One purported risk of expanding the College Football Playoff to 16 teams is the increased likelihood of rematches further down the line.
Could that take a toll on College Football Playoff viewership? Again, Finebaum expressed his doubts.
“People will watch games based on what their value is,” he said. “That game is going to be better in December than it was perhaps in November, depending on the matchup because of the obvious outcome. I don’t think that’s a big deal.
“Really I don’t think because a game was played in October or on Nov. 7 in Baton Rouge or Tuscaloosa is going to stop one person from caring about it considering what happens to the winner and, ultimately, the loser.”
In other words, win-or-go-home has a certain inherent appeal. And that’s something that will likely always exist in a college football playoff, regardless how much the field expands.
So count Finebaum as someone who isn’t overly concerned with College Football Playoff expansion. That’s just the name of the game at this point.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
