“Folks Weren’t Playing in Bowl Games at All”: Ryan Clark Calls the 12-Team College Football Playoff a ‘Major Win’ for NCAA

There was an evident surge in interest and growth in college football in 2024. The games have become exciting to watch once again, said Ryan Clark, explaining how the 12-team College Football Playoff model has helped bring about the positive change.

“Bringing the college playoffs to twelve games was genius,” stated Clark on the Pivot podcast. “When was the last time we sat around watching college football excited? We had got to a point where folks weren’t playing Bowl games at all. Now you know at least 4 games are going to be played by the best of the best. Because their National Championship hopes were at stake. We haven’t had that in a long time.”

 

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The CFP expanded from a four-team to a 12-team format in 2024. This allows for eight additional teams to compete for the National Championship after the Conference Championship weekend. Previously, only the four highest-ranked teams at the end of the season faced off in the two semifinal games.

Clark noted that earlier, many players used to opt out of Bowl Games, bringing down their significance as well as excitement. This trend was concerning as it was indicative of a lack of motivation in players whose teams were not in contention for the National Championship.

Clark explained the logic in the players’ outlook too. As Bowl Games often do not determine a National Champion, they are seen as less significant compared to playoff games.

That has changed with 12 teams in contention now. It keeps the players interested in giving their best, and the fans excited at the prospect of witnessing hotly contested games.