Rose Bowl makes CFP counter-proposal as early expansion hangs in the balance

The Rose Bowl is making their case to the College Football Playoff as plans for expansion begin to materialize.

According to Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated, the Rose Bowl has given the decision makers a counter-proposal on the future of their spot in the College Football Playoff as expansion hangs in the balance.

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“College Football Playoff executives plan to further discuss in the coming days the Rose Bowl’s latest request as it relates to CFP expansion in what could be an ultimatum for, or compromise with, the sport’s oldest active bowl game, sources tell Sports Illustrated,” wrote Dellenger. “A final decision on the Rose Bowl’s fate is expected this week.

“In its latest proposal to the CFP, the Rose Bowl is requesting to host a semifinal, if the semifinals fall on New Year’s Day, in two out of every three years the semifinals are held on that date in an expanded playoff. It is another attempt to keep the Rose Bowl’s traditional date and time (5 p.m. ET on Jan. 1) in future postseason formats.”

Alas, the “Granddaddy of Them All” is the biggest hurdle remaining to get the College Football Playoff to 12 teams for the 2024 season. If they can’t agree, the Rose Bowl could single-handedly delay expansion, per Dellenger.

“In position to single-handedly delay playoff expansion, the Rose Bowl wants guarantees around its role in future playoffs in exchange for agreeing to expand early,” wrote Dellenger. “Five of the six bowls—Sugar, Orange, Fiesta, Peach and Cotton—are in support of amending the contract to expand early. But CFP officials need unanimous agreement from all six bowls to expand the playoff to 12 teams before the media rights contract with ESPN ends after the 2025 playoff.

“Few, if any, guarantees can be made for the Playoff beyond 2025 because no contract exists.”

Continuing, Dellenger theorizes there’s a possibility that the Rose Bowl could lose it’s place and subsequently it’s luster if it’s unwilling to compromise with the College Football Playoff situation, which would cost college football in the process.

“If Rose Bowl officials do not agree to terms, they would be costing college football in more ways than one,” wrote Dellenger. “An expanded CFP would generate a combined $450 million in additional revenue in 2024 and 2025, as well as a combined 16 additional playoff spots. Labeled stubborn by some and traditionalists by others, the Rose Bowl’s position has long been expected, previously described by some as ‘the biggest hangup’ and the “big issue” to expansion.

“Top-level conference executives anonymously expressed their frustration over the game, which has been historically protected by longtime relationships within the Pac-12 and Big Ten.”

For one of college football’s greatest cathedrals, it’s evident there’s some issues to be worked out at the moment. Still, it would be a shame if the Rose Bowl and the College Football Playoff can’t find a way to coexist, both for the sport as a whole and fans around the country.