2024 could very well be remembered as the year that changed everything in the college football landscape. It’s not an exaggeration. A lot has happened in the NCAA league and a lot is still changing. Let’s see what is going on in college football and how much things are evolving.
Goodbye PAC-12, and thank you for the memories!
Let’s start from the beginning. One of the main reasons – if not the main reason – of this quick development is the dissolution of the Pacific-12 Conference, better known by its short name, PAC-12. Of the 12 teams that once played in the conference, only Oregon State and Washington State are still in the division. The other 10 colleges migrated to other conferences.
Everything started in 2021. At first, Texas and Oklahoma moved from the BIG 12 to the SEC (Southeastern Conference). Then Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington decided to relocate in BIG 10 while Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah went to the BIG 12. At last, California and Stanford decided to travel across the country and entered the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). It’s fair to say the deck has really been reshuffled.
What does it mean for the bettor?
Of course, the changes on the gridiron will be reflected in the betting landscape. The PAC-12 was a good division, with a lot of great teams. Now, these athletes will play in other stadiums, against another kind of competition. Clearly, it changes a lot for anyone who likes to bet.
Given the uncertainty over the favourite teams, it might be worth taking advantage of the promotions offered by bookmakers to bet on the favourite team to win the title. You can redeem your bonus bets here, by visiting Oddschecker’s guide to sportsbook promos. College football is a collective rite. When Saturday Funday hits, you know you are going to have a wild time. This year this is particularly true because of the new playoff format.
The new NCAA college football playoff format and rules
The biggest change in college football playoffs has nothing to do with the PAC-12 becoming the PAC-2. To make the league more entertaining (not that it wasn’t, but the commissioners are always looking to increase their revenues) the NCAA opted for a 12-team playoff format, way more competitive than the old 4-team series. The 5 highest-ranked conference champions will always join the playoff from this season onward, while the other 7 participants will be the top-ranked remaining universities.
The four best teams will have a bye week at the beginning of the playoffs and jump in during the quarterfinals. The worst ranked 8 teams in the dozen will play a round of qualifications before entering the quarterfinals.
What about the transfers?
Another set of rules that changed is the one about student transfers. Starting this year, a student-athlete can transfer multiple times, without facing any penalty, as long as he can keep up with his studies and maintain good academic standing.
Are these changes going to impact the ballhead’s experience?
At this point, one might wonder: what do these changes mean for a local ballhead like me, always ready to support his Alma Mater?
Well, the viewer’s experience is going to be pretty much the same, during the regular season. Once the new conferences won’t be new anymore (for example, next year) college football will be as fun as ever. The playoffs, though, are a different story.
The games that count, the ones that can give you a trophy or a championship, will last a whole month. Teams are going to play two quarterfinals round, a semifinals round and finally, in the last week of the playoffs, the two best programs will go head to head for the silverware. It means that we will be watching way more games. It’s better for the football enthusiast, of course, but it may be worse for an avid supporter, because he’s bound to suffer longer. However, it also means that victory will taste much sweeter, in the end.
Good times for college football enthusiasts
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Football is not just a sport, it is a religion, and there are a lot of ways to enjoy it. You can simply sit back to watch a game or you can bet on it, check if your fantasy superstar scored you some points or also replay the matchup on your favourite gaming platform. Your passion knows no limits.
