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National Championship Semi-Final Games

Troglodyte

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Are these always going to be held on New Years Eve? Sooner or later I'm going to get snagged into some party and have to miss watching them live. I convinced the wife to not go over to the nieghbors until 10:30 tonight. Seems the powers that be would have reservations about scheduling them on a night where people might not be able to watch them.
 

SteelBuckeye

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Nope, they changed it this past Summer after ratings fell last year. Prior to that, the Big Bowls refused to change the dates of their bowls due to "tradition". I guess cash rules when common sense isn't enough.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/17163763/college-football-playoff-moves-some-new-year-eve-dates

All College Football Playoff semifinal games will be played on Saturdays or holidays after the event saw ratings plummet on New Year's Eve last season.

Upcoming CFP Semifinals
SEASON DATE SITES
2016 Sat., Dec. 31 Fiesta, Peach
2017 Mon., Jan. 1 Rose, Sugar
2018* Sat., Dec. 29 Cotton, Orange
2019* Sat., Dec. 28 Fiesta, Peach
2020 Fri., Jan. 1 Rose, Sugar
2021 Fri., Dec. 31 Orange, TBD
2022 Sat., Dec. 31 Bowls TBD
2023 Mon., Jan. 1 Rose, Sugar
2024* Sat., Dec. 28 Orange, TBD
2025* Sat., Dec. 27 Bowls TBD
* Date changed Thursday
The dates have been changed for the semifinal games in the 2018, 2019, 2024 and 2025 seasons.

CFP executive director Bill Hancock said the drop in viewership combined with what he called "a simple and elegant alternative" was enough to sway the management committee to change the dates.

"Once we settled on this as the best possible alternative, then the rest of the dominoes fell," he said.

Hancock said he had heard from college football fans across the country, fans he sees in church and at the grocery store.

"I did hear from several who said, 'Bill, stay with it,'" he said. "But most said, 'It just doesn't work for me.'"

Following the national championship game, Hancock said the CFP realized it needed to review the data and be deliberate and open to change.

"Over the next few months, we did that," he said. "We just took our time, looked at the data and realized that we had tried to do something special on New Year's Eve, but we could do better. I'm so happy because this is so great for the fans."

The semifinals will remain on one weekday New Year's Eve -- Friday, Dec. 31, 2021 -- which will be the federally observed New Year's holiday.

The Orange, Rose and Sugar Bowls will host semifinal games through at least the 2024 season. The CFP will determine the remaining semifinal sites for the 2021 season and thereafter some time in 2018.

This season's semifinals will be played on Dec. 31, a Saturday.

Hancock was asked if the CFP had purposely avoided New Years Day in seasons other than when Rose/Sugar hosted.

"We wanted to honor the traditions of the game, including the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl," he said.

He also said the CFP considered having the semifinals on different days.

"We considered several options, one of which was having the semifinals on different days, but we concluded that wouldn't be fair because one team would have an additional day to prepare," he said.
 

Penguins&Steelers

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I want to watch badly but I'm not staying at home alone to watch when there is a party at my buddies down the street. I'll watch on my phone some.

Sent from my Pixel using Steeler Nation mobile app
 

Lunar

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First game about to start.
 

Lunar

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Defenses dominate early.
 

Lunar

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Washington scores first.
 

SteelBuckeye

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Wash strikes first ... TD. 7-0 Washington
 

SteelBuckeye

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Bama bounces back with a TD on the ensuing drive
 

Troglodyte

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Washington is playing hem a lot tougher than I thought they would. Thought this game might be decided by halftime.
 

SteelBuckeye

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Washington is playing hem a lot tougher than I thought they would. Thought this game might be decided by halftime.

After that stupid throw by the Wash QB, it just might be.
 

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Alabama's play calling sucks this half.
 

Troglodyte

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Really impressed with Washingtons defense.
 

Troglodyte

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Spoke too soon, that should do it. Game over
 

SteelBuckeye

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That TD right there by the Bama RB (Scarborough?) is the nail in the coffin. Poor tackling by the Wash defense.
 

stillerfaninfl

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Game over. Who will 'bama play for the championship? I think Clemson.
 

stuntmanmike

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J Allen of alabama would look pretty good in the black n gold in place of Jarvis jones.... he's a beast and would be a great bookend to Dupree
 
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