December Madness: College Football Is Selling Its Soul
Twenty-four teams. Twenty-four? At this point, just call it December Madness and be done with it.
Before anybody accuses me of sour grapes, let me be clear: I’m a Texas fan. My team will benefit from an expanded College Football Playoff, more opportunities, more chances to survive a bad loss, and more paths to a national championship.
I can acknowledge that and still think it’s bad for the sport.
The latest news tells you everything you need to know about where college football is headed.
ESPN is reportedly expected to pay an additional $345 million per year for a 24-team playoff, on top of the roughly $1.3 billion it already pays annually for the College Football Playoff. The deal is still being finalized, and eliminating conference championship games could offset some of that cost.
But let’s be real: I know what this is about.
More games. More advertising. More sponsorships. More money.
And we’re supposed to pretend this is all about making college football better?
You’ve taken a sport with the least margin for error and turned its regular season into an afterthought.
Remember Tim Tebow’s promise?
In September 2008, Florida lost to Ole Miss. Tebow stood in front of the cameras, devastated, and promised that nobody would work harder for the rest of the season. That loss felt like a gut punch to a team with national championship dreams. Instead of folding, Florida used it as a wake-up call—and finished the season as national champions.
THAT’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL
A loss that hurts. A season that hangs in the balance. A team that has to respond when everybody thinks its championship hopes are in trouble.
Now? Lose a big game, and there might be another lifeline. Lose your rivalry game? Maybe the committee will still love you.
What happened to losing mattering?
Access matters. I understand that. But there’s a difference between giving deserving teams an opportunity and continually expanding the postseason because there’s more money to be made.
College football isn’t the NFL with marching bands.
Its identity comes from regional rivalries, campus traditions, bitter grudges, and Saturdays when one loss can break your heart—or define your season.
We’re risking all of that for more television inventory. And the saddest part? They’re going to sell us the funeral as progress.
I just wanted the players to get their share of the billions they helped generate.
I DIDN’T WANT THIS.
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