FOX Sports faculty soccer author Laken Litman described the on-campus video games within the opening spherical of the College Football Playoff as “implausible.” Michael Cohen took it a step additional, referring to home-field benefit as “an unbelievable shake-up to the postseason format.” And lastly, RJ Young put the icing on the cake, calling it “one of the best home-field benefit in sports activities.”
While all 4 dwelling groups gained their opening spherical CFP matchups by double digits, it is secure to say that the brand new 12-team format represents a notable enchancment over its predecessors. The video games on campus had been electrifying, full of raucous dwelling crowds cheering on 4 of school soccer’s most recognizable manufacturers. It was all the pieces followers wished when the preliminary 12-team format was revealed, regardless of some lopsided outcomes.
So, now that the primary spherical is within the books and faculty soccer fanatics have had an opportunity to digest the brand new format, it is time to supply some insights.
Should the present 12-team format stay as it’s? Should the best way groups are distributed change? And ought to much more CFP video games be performed on campuses?
FOX Sports faculty soccer writers Litman Lake, RJ Young AND Michael Cohen I’m right here to reply these questions after the opening spherical of the CFP.
All 4 dwelling groups gained by double digits within the opening spherical of the CFP. After seeing 4 CFP video games performed on campus for the primary time ever, what’s your impression of this new format and do you suppose it’s in one of the best curiosity of the game to take care of it?
RJ Young: Sports’ finest dwelling benefit proved its value within the first spherical of the CFP. Each dwelling crew gained however by a median of 19.25 factors. Great groups all through the common season performed in entrance of raucous full-capacity crowds in 4 extraordinary cathedrals of the game, Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas and Ohio State. The proven fact that these matches had been distinctive underlines the worth that the house crowd can supply.
Michael Cohen: The addition of on-campus video games to this yr’s College Football Playoff supplied a surprising jolt to the postseason format, which had traded the game’s wondrous pageantry for the sterility of impartial venues that saved America’s bowl organizers in enterprise. long-standing. The turbulent scenes at Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas and Ohio State have strengthened how enjoyable and priceless home-field benefit may be in faculty soccer, with every local people getting an enormous monetary injection as well. Even with the lopsided scores produced by this yr’s first-round matches, there isn’t a doubt that the campus atmospheres have been a terrific addition to the competitors.
However, the format was removed from excellent and can should be modified within the coming years. There are discussions available concerning the validity of reserving first-round byes for the convention champions, even when they aren’t among the many 4 highest-ranked groups total; on whether or not to reseed the sector after every spherical, based mostly on how the NFL manages its playoff construction to favor higher-seeded groups; on shifting quarterfinal and semifinal video games to campuses as a reward for colleges that get a bye; and the distribution of automated bids amongst conferences, with the Big Ten and SEC inevitably pushing for as many automated qualifiers as attainable. These conversations are more likely to proceed within the coming weeks and months, however the total theme of this yr’s playoffs is that an expanded discipline was much more enjoyable than the unique four-team development, even when it is nonetheless not excellent.
Litman Lake: The video games on campus had been nice. So a lot so that there is discuss (much more than earlier than) that your complete CFP might be on faculty campuses till the nationwide championship recreation. Basically adopting the NFL playoff mannequin. Sure, the primary spherical matches could have been lopsided for probably the most half, however the environments had been unbeatable. It snowed at Notre Dame, there was a White Out at Penn State that SMU needed to put together further for, Matthew McConaughey led “Texas Fight” in Austin, and whereas there was a superb chunk of Tennessee Orange at The Shoe, Ohio State followers I bought them again by enjoying “Rocky Top” within the remaining moments of the sport.
As a lot as all of us love bocce video games, most of these experiences can’t be duplicated on a impartial web site. Simply put, it is extra enjoyable this fashion and reveals how particular and nostalgic faculty soccer is.
Laken Litman covers faculty soccer, faculty basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. He beforehand wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the creator of “Strong Like a Woman,” revealed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Follow her to @LakenLitman.
RJ Young is a nationwide faculty soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports and host of “The Number One College Football Show” podcast. Follow him to @RJ_Young.
Michael Cohen covers faculty soccer and basketball for FOX Sports with a deal with the Big Ten. Follow him at @Michael_Cohen13.
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