The policy in brief
What this part would establish
- The Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Peach, and Fiesta bowls form the CFP’s concentrated six-game Round of 12 working set.
- Approximately 8–12 traditional bowls remain voluntary reward trips for teams outside both tournaments.
- Other operators can run kickoff games, interconference-challenge showcases, hospitality, and tourism products.
- The National Tournament receives Tuesday/Wednesday inventory; the CFP receives Friday/Saturday inventory.
- The launch structure stops at the CFP, National Tournament, and optional bowls—no third bracket.
How it works
A defined three-track postseason
The 18-team CFP determines the FBS national champion. The 16-team National Tournament creates a separate title for eligible institutions outside the Power Four. A smaller traditional-bowl group offers voluntary reward trips and appealing matchups for teams outside both fields.
The premier bowl role
The third weekend of December becomes one concentrated destination round. The working model uses the Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Peach, and Fiesta bowls, with the six Round 2 matchups assigned under published geographic and competitive criteria. That keeps historic operators central without requiring fans to travel repeatedly through every round.
A regular-season future for event operators
Bowl organizations outside the premier group can create Week 0, Week 1, and September intersectional showcases, including selected neutral-site challenge games. Their expertise in tourism, sponsorship, hospitality, and local operations remains valuable beyond late-December inventory.
Fewer invitations, clearer meaning
The structure produces roughly 50–58 postseason participants rather than manufacturing enough games for nearly every .500 team. Fewer bowls can strengthen the reward-trip identity while the two tournaments supply the elimination stakes.
Safeguards
What keeps the rule honest
- Traditional bowl participation remains voluntary and cannot interfere with either tournament.
- Geographic and competitive assignment criteria are published before selection.
- New regular-season events must not erase campus home-game equity across scheduling cycles.
Still to resolve
Questions testing must answer
- Should the six-bowl working set be permanent, periodically rebid, or rotated with other qualified operators?
- What eligibility standard keeps traditional bowls selective without making invitations arbitrary?
- How should existing contracts be transitioned without creating uncompensated losses?
Discuss this rule
The proposal ends.
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