The College Football Playoff: A New Format, Same Old Story?

The highly anticipated College Football Playoff (CFP) kicked off with a bang, but not in a good way. The first round was a yawn-fest, with average scores of 36 to 17 and not a single game closer than 10 points. Even worse, there was only one lead change across all four games. This new format aimed to include more teams from different regions, but it's too early to tell if it's truly making a difference. The next round will give us a better idea if this new setup is working. One highlight was the packed stadiums. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian praised the home playoff games, saying it was a success. But the real test will be the TV ratings, as the CFP went head-to-head with two exciting NFL games. The quarterfinals are coming up over the New Year's holiday. Let's break down the matchups: Penn State vs. Boise State, Texas vs. Arizona State, Ohio State vs. Oregon, and Notre Dame vs. Georgia. Some of these games could be repeats of earlier this season, which might not be what fans want. The transfer portal has been a hot topic. It closes on Dec. 28, but not before causing some chaos. Teams like Arizona State and Tennessee lost many players. This raises questions about what drives athletes nowadays—is it championships or money? Coach Deion Sanders is making headlines too. His players, including Heisman winner Travis Hunter, will play in the Alamo Bowl despite no title implications. This shows a different side of the NIL era, where players find meaning in every game.