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The 2024 college football season wrapped up on Monday with Ohio State clinching a national championship by defeating Notre Dame. This victory marks a remarkable turnaround for the Buckeyes, who seemed lost just a month prior following a surprising defeat to Michigan. In celebration of the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff, here are 12 invaluable lessons learned from a truly unprecedented college football campaign.
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The expanded playoff is a winner: Purists may question the legitimacy of celebrating a two-loss OSU team as national champions, especially after they lost their fourth straight game to their rival and failed to compete for a conference title. However, this marks a new, NFL-like era in the sport. Ohio State’s journey to victory included defeating four Top 10 teams in the playoff (including #2, #3, and #4 in the final AP Poll), proving they deserved the title.
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The regular season still matters…: There were concerns that the expanded playoff would diminish the significance of the regular season. Yet, ratings continued to increase throughout, even for less notable bowl games. The expanded playoff actually enhanced the excitement of the regular season, proving the opposite of what was feared. Source
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…Conference championship games don’t: Not everything was flawless for the CFP this year. A key issue lies in the treatment of conference champions with byes and the alteration needed for a conference championship weekend that allowed losing teams to secure better playoff positions. Although these title games are lucrative, they might need reevaluation for the greater good.
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Stop the madness: ESPN must abandon the weekly CFP rankings show. Despite the content it generates, the negativity and toxicity associated with it can be detrimental to the sport. Fortunately, ESPN adjusted their approach during the playoff after a rocky start, reminding viewers that watching games could be enjoyable rather than simply engaging in debate like cable news.
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Less is more: Lead analyst Kirk Herbstreit faced significant scrutiny this year. From his emotional highs and lows with Ohio State fans to his harsh critiques of Indiana, his presence became more stressful than necessary. It may be beneficial for Herbstreit and ESPN to focus on game commentary rather than carrying the weight of the sport alone.
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Hail Saban: Former Alabama coach Nick Saban was a natural in his debut season on College GameDay, excelling in his new analyst role. We eagerly anticipate his next showdown with Shane Gillis.
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GameDay gains: College GameDay, the leading pregame show, achieved record viewership this season, widening the gap between itself and Big Noon Kickoff. The winning formula discovered this year, featuring Saban, Pat McAfee, and various guests, was the perfect blend.
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Big Noon’s big dilemma: Fans voiced their frustration with Big Noon Saturday this year, especially considering the number of significant Big Ten matchups scheduled early each week. However, Fox remains steadfast in its commitment to the concept, implying a continuing rocky relationship with college football fans.
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Big Ten balance of power: With Fox at the helm for Big Noon and the Big Ten, the other conference partners, CBS and NBC, were stuck with underwhelming schedules, given the strength and depth of the league. Aside from the Oregon-Ohio State game in primetime on NBC, it was challenging to find compelling matchups throughout the year. Both networks are hoping for significant changes in 2025.
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The SEC on ABC is a powerhouse: Although the SEC may have ceded its spot as the dominant force on the field to the Big Ten, there’s no denying the strength of its television appeal. The newly exclusive ESPN-SEC deal was a resounding success for both parties.
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The Coach Prime Effect: While Deion Sanders may not have clinched Sports Illustrated’s Sports Person of the Year, his Colorado Buffaloes exhibited impressive play in their second year in Boulder. Despite not reaching the excitement levels of last fall, Colorado remains a significant television draw… as long as Deion doesn’t head to Dallas.
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Bristol’s big win: Following the initial year of the expanded playoff, ESPN must be thrilled to have secured exclusive rights to the event. Even after sub-licensing a few games to TNT, ESPN dominated the playoff month. With the SEC-Big Ten Power 2 divide resulting in ESPN and Fox-NBC-CBS on opposing sides throughout the season, Bristol’s strategy of outmaneuvering competition effectively rendered them a non-factor during the playoffs. Don’t tell Jimmy Pitaro, but the reason they are still known as the worldwide leader in sports is clear.
