With the College Football Playoff expanding through 2031, there are still questions about how the rest of the postseason will be structured, but one thing that is certain is that there will still be bowl games. Nick Carparelli, executive director of Bowl Season, believes that college football should provide more postseason opportunities for student athletes, not fewer, as with other NCAA sports. He has ideas to keep bowl games relevant, such as allowing more freedom for games to create interesting matchups. The biggest change may come from college football becoming more professionalized and player compensation agreements mandating postseason participation.
The CFP is expanding from four to 12 teams this season and could potentially include 14 teams starting in 2026. The playoff has decreased the emphasis on bowl games even in a four-team system, sparking discussion about their significance. While bowl games still attract viewers, player opt-outs have become common. Despite this, Carparelli believes that players ultimately enjoy playing football but have been discouraged in recent years. He envisions a future in college football that includes revenue sharing with players and name, image, and likeness compensation deals similar to professional sports contracts.
There will be 36 bowl games played outside the College Football Playoff this year, including four first-round games at campus sites. The future of the 36 bowl games for the 2026 season and beyond is uncertain, as conferences have contractual agreements with the bowls that will soon become free agents. Conferences typically prefer to have multiple bowl partnerships to ensure eligible teams a spot in the postseason. Carparelli would like to see more flexibility in the bowl selection process so games can create more compelling matchups with available teams, reminiscent of how bowls operated 30 or 40 years ago.
Conferences will play a significant role in determining the future structure of bowl games, as the CFP has decided that there will be no certainty outside of five conference champions being included in the system. With the original 12-year CFP deal expiring after the 2025 season, all bowl games will need to negotiate new agreements. Carparelli hopes that conferences will consider introducing more flexibility in the bowl selection process to enhance the appeal and competitiveness of matchups. Ultimately, the future of college football postseason could see significant changes as the sport continues to evolve.
