The landscape of college football is evolving with the upcoming 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP), and the significance of high-profile non-conference matchups, like the Week 1 game between No. 1 Georgia and No. 14 Clemson, is under scrutiny. These games have traditionally been essential in the BCS and four-team CFP eras, but their value in the new format remains to be seen.
As the Peach Bowl CEO Gary Stokan points out, the real test will be how the CFP selection committee reacts to these matchups. In the four-team playoff, scheduling tough non-conference games was crucial for making the playoffs. For instance, Alabama’s victory over Florida State in the 2017 season helped them secure a playoff spot despite not winning the SEC.
In the new 12-team format, neutral-site openers and other non-conference games might hold different significance, especially for teams on the playoff bubble. According to Stokan, these games could become even more crucial for teams vying for the final spots in the 9-12 range, where the selection process will be more contentious.
While some, like USC coach Lincoln Riley, express concerns about the risks of such games—particularly with already tough conference schedules—others see the value in maintaining these marquee matchups. Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell believes that scheduling challenging non-conference games will continue to be advantageous, especially as a way to measure a team’s strength.
Looking ahead, the future of these games could depend heavily on conference scheduling decisions and financial considerations, particularly in powerhouse conferences like the SEC. Some teams, like Ohio State and Michigan, have scheduled high-profile home-and-home series in the coming years, but whether these games will persist remains uncertain.
In the short term, neutral-site games are expected to continue, with events like the AFLAC Kickoff Game and the Vegas Kickoff Classic already scheduled through 2027. The games are still seen as valuable, offering competitive matchups that are a refreshing change from one-sided games against lesser opponents.
Ultimately, as the CFP format continues to evolve, so too will the strategies around scheduling these early-season games. The first few years of the 12-team playoff will likely set the tone for how teams and conferences approach non-conference scheduling in the future.
