So out of the 11 playoff games, there was one that was legitimately dramatic (Az. State-Texas), one competitive with a late decisive play (OSU-Texas), one kinda upset (ND-Georgia), and the rest blowouts. In the 10 NFL playoff games so far, there have been three wildly dramatic games decided in the last two minutes (Commies-Bucs, Bills-Ravens, Eagles-Rams), one big upset (Commies-Lions), and the rest snoozers or absolute blowouts. That really looks like random difference to me. And yet, I get more interest in the NFL playoffs as they go on, while the college playoff is eerily like its March Madness equivalent. I was more interest at the start than at the finish.
Is this me, or is it an experience endemic to college sports?
I think the problem with the college tournaments, both the new football format and basketball, is the scheduling is all over the place. Basketball has a little more of a sidenote with the fact that upsets can and do happen in the first rounds, plus there are all to wall games, so people really love that first weekend.
But other than New Year's Day, there was no way to know when games were going to be. Traditional Saturday to start, a Tuesday and Wednesday, a Thursday and Friday, and then a Monday. And it took a month. Basketball finishes on a Monday when no other tournament games are played on Mondays. But I guess it has always been that way so we are used to it, but it still is actually odd based on the rest of the schedule. Basketball wouldn't lose much if you did the Final Four on Thursday-Saturday I don't think, but they probably would never do it.
Football is stuck with the NFL, but I wonder if they could tweak it to make the final like a Thursday night before an NFL weekend? I think that would be better than a Monday. They also could say screw the New Year's Day thing, but that is probably way down the road.
Overall I really enjoyed the college football playoff. I'd change the seeding and who gets byes, but I don't think that ultimately impacted anything. It will only get better. People will figure out the weird schedules too, I think.