College Football Playoff executives plan to further discuss in the coming days the Rose Bowl’s latest request as it relates to CFP expansion in what could be an ultimatum for, or compromise with, the sport’s oldest active bowl game, sources told Sports Illustrated. A final decision on the Rose Bowl’s fate is expected this week.
In its latest proposal to the CFP, the Rose Bowl is requesting to host a semifinal in two out of every three years assuming semifinals are held on New Year’s Day. It is another attempt to keep the Rose Bowl’s traditional date and time (5 p.m. ET on Jan. 1) in future postseason formats.
The bowl game’s proposal comes at an intensely pressurized time as CFP officials are attempting to finalize an expanded 12-team playoff in time for the 2024 season. However, one major hurdle stands in the way: the Granddaddy of Them All, a 106-year-old game based in Pasadena, Calif., that is tethered to the Rose Parade.
