The Rose Bowl is one of the most popular bowl games in college football. After all, it’s a classic college bowl game, so it makes sense that Pasadena, California will play host to future College Football Playoff games, right?
It makes sense according to CFP leadership, but a spot in the Rose Bowl in college football’s upcoming expansion is by no means guaranteed.
Indeed, the CFP has issued the Rose Bowl ultimatum and may finally go ahead without the “granddaddy of them all.”
ESPN The CFP has reportedly given the Rose Bowl a deadline to decide whether it wants to rotate the New Year’s Six bowl in this next contract.
The reason for the rush? CFP It wants to expand by 2024. If he can’t, ESPN reports that roughly $450M in potential revenue could be lost.
The Rose Bowl will have to decide what it’s comfortable giving up and what to expect to be part of this new deal with the expanded CFP. Rose Bowl Management Committee Chairwoman Laura Farber told ESPN that the bowl wants to keep the unique broadcast window of Jan. 1 at 2 p.m. PT and host the CFP semifinals.
Another CFP destination for the Rose Bowl would be severing ties between the Big Ten and Pac-12, the two affiliated conferences.
ESPN reports that the Rose Bowl will “temporarily accept” that partnership to host the quarterfinals in 2024 and 2025, but the bowl will seek a new contract with long-term guarantees. The Rose Bowl’s current contract expires after the 2025 season.
“In order for the CFP to expand during the current contract, everyone involved — including all New Year’s Six bowl games, the CFP and ESPN as exclusive rights holders — must unanimously agree,” Heather Dinich wrote. “Several sources told ESPN that the calendar — presidents and chancellors met on Nov. 16 — mentioned revenue sharing as one source. The final piece of the puzzle was the Rose Bowl. When the next contract is negotiated, that’s it. It shouldn’t be the same — without the Rose Bowl and/or the Big Ten and the Pac- 12 votes makes it very easy to proceed.
