The Rose Bowl Game logo © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Recent discussions over expansion to the College Football Playoff have left one historical bowl game uncertain about its future.
In every season since the change to the four-team playoff format, the Rose Bowl has either hosted a semifinal game or held their matchup in the prime television slot on New Year’s Day.
As an expanded postseason looms, though, these Rose Bowl traditions have become hurdles for the College Football Playoff committee to overcome.
Not looking to give up their traditional date and time slot, the Rose Bowl has reportedly sent a proposal to the CFP requesting that they host a semifinal in two out of every three years, assuming they are held on New Year’s Day.
According to a Sports Illustrated article covering the Rose Bowl’s proposal, the “Granddaddy of Them All” is the only major bowl game not currently on board with the College Football Playoff’s expansion plan. The other five, the Sugar, Orange, Peach, Fiesta, and Cotton Bowls, have all shown support on amending their contract to expand early.
Per the CFP’s proposal, the six participating bowls would rotate between hosting quarterfinal matchups on New Year’s Day and semifinal games later in January. The Rose Bowl, scheduled to be a quarterfinal in 2024 and 2025, would retain its New Year’s Day kickoff for least those two seasons.
After many long months of deliberation, it’s unclear how the College Football Playoff committee will react to the latest proposal from the Rose Bowl.
However, and considering the delay is in large part due to the Pasadena bowl game, it’s likely that very little compromise will be shown by the playoff’s governing body.