Fans Everywhere Saying the Same Thing About College Football National Title Game’s Big Problem

The College Football National Championship Game has long been one of the premier sporting events in the United States. However, despite its storied history and immense popularity, the game has recently come under scrutiny. Fans everywhere have begun expressing a similar sentiment: something is off with the College Football National Title Game. From the format of the playoff system to the quality of the games themselves, there’s growing concern that the title game, once the pinnacle of college football, has become predictable and lacks the excitement it once had.

This article will explore some of the biggest issues fans are discussing when it comes to the College Football National Title Game, diving into the complaints surrounding the playoff system, the unbalanced nature of the competition, and why some believe the game no longer lives up to its potential as the thrilling, suspense-filled contest it once was.

1. The Format of the Playoff System: Why It’s Time for Change

One of the biggest points of contention surrounding the National Championship Game is the current format of the College Football Playoff (CFP). Since its inception in 2014, the four-team playoff system has been at the heart of the College Football National Championship. While the system was meant to bring more excitement and fairness to the process of determining a national champion, many fans feel it has failed to do so.

The biggest issue with the current four-team format is that it limits the chances of smaller programs breaking into the championship conversation. The selection committee, which is responsible for choosing the four teams that will compete in the playoff, often favors teams from the Power 5 conferences, particularly those from the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12, and Pac-12. This leaves little room for teams from Group of Five conferences or those from less publicized programs to compete for the title. As a result, the same few schools—such as Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson—find themselves in the playoff year after year.

For fans of other schools, this predictability can be frustrating. College football thrives on its ability to surprise and delight, with underdogs regularly pulling off upsets. However, the CFP format often feels like a preordained race for the top spots, where the same teams dominate year after year. When the national championship game is essentially a showcase for the same programs, it can make the entire postseason feel less exciting.

Another major concern with the current playoff system is the lack of opportunity for all teams to have a fair shot at the national title. While the system was designed to make the playoff process more inclusive, many feel that it hasn’t worked as intended. For example, the 2022 season highlighted this issue when two teams—Alabama and Ohio State—missed out on the playoff despite having one or fewer losses, while other teams, like Michigan and TCU, earned spots despite having questionable résumés. Fans have been vocal about wanting a more transparent and comprehensive system that doesn’t leave out deserving teams.

2. Predictability and Lack of Parity

For many college football fans, one of the most frustrating aspects of the College Football National Title Game is how predictable the outcomes have become. The dominance of programs like Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State has led to a lack of diversity in the teams competing for the national championship.

Over the years, fans have become disillusioned by the same names appearing in the final game, especially as many of these programs have large recruiting budgets and resources, creating an inherent imbalance between them and other schools. With the increased influence of the “blue-chip” programs, where the top recruits go every year, the national title game often ends up feeling more like a selection of the same handful of elite teams that perpetuate the cycle year after year.

Take Alabama, for example. Under head coach Nick Saban, Alabama has been a dominant force in college football, consistently landing top recruiting classes and competing for national championships year after year. While Alabama’s success is commendable, it has led to a sense of predictability in the national championship. Fans of other teams—especially those from mid-major conferences—feel left out and are frustrated by the lack of parity. The same teams being involved in the title game year after year can take away from the excitement of the competition, as fans already know which schools are most likely to make it to the final.

Additionally, the perception that some teams are “built” for the national title, while others are not, often discourages new talent from considering programs outside of the Power 5 conferences. This creates a situation where the best teams in the nation are all competing for the same resources, leaving little room for others to rise up and challenge for the crown.

3. The Expanded Playoff Debate

The growing dissatisfaction with the current four-team playoff system has sparked an ongoing debate among college football fans about expanding the playoff to include more teams. Many fans argue that the four-team format is simply too narrow and that a larger bracket would offer more opportunities for underdogs to emerge and compete for the title.

In 2021, the NCAA announced that it would expand the College Football Playoff to 12 teams, set to begin in 2024. The 12-team format will allow more teams from different conferences to compete, which should help address some of the concerns about the lack of parity in the postseason. By including more teams, the playoff system will give schools from the Group of Five conferences, as well as other teams with strong records but weaker schedules, a more significant chance to compete for the national title.

For many fans, the prospect of a 12-team playoff is a welcomed change. It opens up the field to more competition and creates a more dynamic, unpredictable postseason. This change is expected to generate more excitement around the College Football National Title Game, as teams from different conferences, with various styles of play, will now have a legitimate shot at making a run to the championship. Additionally, the expanded playoff will reduce the chances of “deserving” teams being left out, making the process feel more inclusive and fair.

The expanded playoff system will also create a greater sense of excitement leading up to the national championship. With more teams vying for a spot, fans will be able to experience the thrill of March Madness-style upsets and Cinderella stories, something that has been lacking in the current four-team system. Fans who have long yearned for a more competitive and diverse playoff field are hopeful that this expansion will breathe new life into the College Football National Title Game.

4. The Rise of Opt-Outs and Declining Competitiveness

Another growing problem with the College Football National Title Game is the rise of players opting out of postseason games, including the national championship. With players now having the opportunity to declare for the NFL Draft after their college season, many have started choosing to opt out of major games, including bowl games and the national championship, in order to protect their draft stock.

This has created a situation where some of the top players from both teams competing in the title game may not even take the field. The most notable examples of this phenomenon have come in recent years, with players such as Alabama’s wide receiver Jameson Williams and Michigan’s defensive end Aidan Hutchinson opting out of bowl games and national title games. Fans argue that this diminishes the significance of the championship, as the absence of key players impacts the quality of the game. When some of the best athletes are not participating in the most important games of the season, it creates an asterisk for the title itself.

The rise of opt-outs speaks to a larger issue of how the sport is evolving. With the increasing importance placed on preparing for the NFL Draft, players are making decisions based on their professional futures rather than the tradition of playing in college football’s most prestigious games. While the decision to opt out is understandable from a player’s perspective, it creates a less-than-ideal experience for fans, who want to see the best players compete for the national championship.

5. The Atmosphere of the Title Game: Is It Losing Its Luster?

The atmosphere surrounding the College Football National Championship Game has also come under fire in recent years. Fans have voiced concerns about how the excitement of the title game has waned, especially in relation to other major sporting events.

College football is known for its passionate fanbase, but many believe the national championship game lacks the same electric atmosphere it once had. The neutral-site locations where the national title game is played have made it more difficult for fans to truly “own” the game. Unlike traditional home-field advantage, where fans’ energy can shape the outcome, the neutral sites can often feel like a corporate affair, where fan support is diluted and lacks the intensity of more localized college football rivalries.

Moreover, the growing trend of corporate sponsorships and commercialization has also detracted from the fan experience. The game has become so over-saturated with advertisements and corporate involvement that it can sometimes feel less like a sporting event and more like a business transaction. Fans want to feel the same level of passion and authenticity they get from watching their favorite teams battle it out on a Saturday afternoon, not just a corporate spectacle where the stakes seem diminished by the sheer scale of commercialization.