Is College Football's Future at Stake? Fans Face Shocking Reality Without the Playoff!

About 20 years ago, a friend with significantly deeper pockets invited me and my then-partner on a lavish trip through the Caribbean aboard his father’s private boat. It was the kind of indulgent getaway that I hesitate to even mention publicly, worried I might be first on the list when the revolution arrives. Nonetheless, it was a top-shelf vacation, one I haven't experienced since.

The peculiar thing about a trip like that is that even if it’s the only one you ever take, it starts to feel oddly normal halfway through. Lying on a beach with sand so soft it felt like butter, I found myself restless and asked my friend, “How long are we here today? What’s the next stop?” He smirked and replied, “Oh, Will, I’m sorry, is this perfection not enough for you?” He then mockingly pretended to pout, delivering a line I still quote today: “Hi, I’m Will. This paradise bores me. Bring me new paradise!”

This sentiment resonates deeply with sports fandom. The excitement of victory is often fleeting; when your team wins, the thrill lasts only so long before you crave the next triumph. Since I moved to Athens, Georgia, in 2013, I’ve witnessed firsthand how desperate Bulldogs fans have been for a championship. It had been since 1980 that Georgia last claimed a title. In that time, rivals like Florida, Alabama, and Clemson had all tasted victory, while loyal Georgia supporters felt their lives wouldn't be complete until they reached the promised land. Their desperation led to the firing of Mark Richt, a Hall of Fame coach, despite his remarkable record of 10 wins in four of the previous five seasons—a clear sign of the coaching carousel madness that has enveloped college football.

Finally, in 2021, Kirby Smart, an alum revered in Athens, brought home the championship. A year later, they won again. But how long did that satisfaction last? Maybe 11 months, until they lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and missed the four-team Playoff.

As we approach yet another season, with Georgia showcasing what appears to be the best team in the SEC, the stakes feel particularly high. If they fail to secure another title this year, the outcry from fans could be intense, likely venting frustrations toward offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, who has become the subject of numerous memes. The “RUN THE DAMN BALL BOBO” hats have aged almost as much as some of the players themselves.

Georgia’s titles were anticipated to be transformative. Yet, life for fans remains largely unchanged. The thrill of beating Florida in what’s known as the Cocktail Party rivalry has lost some of its luster, as Georgia has dominated, winning eight of the last nine matchups. What once was a monumental victory is now a norm. In the realm of sports, satisfaction is often a moving target.

As a proud graduate of Illinois, I have endured countless seasons of disappointment. During my time in college, the Illini lost their last 17 games, a streak that preceded coaching woes under Ron Zook and Tim Beckman. However, under coach Bret Bielema and athletic director Josh Whitman, the program is on the upswing. With a real chance for double-digit wins this season—an achievement only reached once in the last 30 years—I found myself skipping their recent game against Maryland simply because Illinois had already been sidelined from the College Football Playoff chase.

As a Georgia fan enjoys tailgating for a high-stakes game against Texas, I find myself less inclined to watch a game that solely affects bowl eligibility. Is that a bit unreasonable? Perhaps, but such is the nature of winning: it fosters an insatiable desire for more.

Vin Scully famously noted that “losing feels worse than winning feels good.” This phenomenon, known as **loss aversion**, describes a human tendency to prioritize avoiding pain over seeking pleasure. Winning becomes addictive, habit-forming. In the ever-expanding landscape of college football and its playoffs, the pressure intensifies. When more teams gain access to the playoffs, missing out can feel like a fundamental failure, as evidenced by the slew of coaching firings in recent years. Even when teams qualify as among the best, the expectation remains that they must improve upon their previous success.

The proposed expansion to 16 or even 24 teams won’t necessarily bring happiness to more fans; it may simply redefine what constitutes success or disappointment. If Ohio State fails to make a repeat playoff appearance, the fallout in fan communities will hardly be filled with understanding and camaraderie.

Is there a remedy for this unending quest for satisfaction? Perhaps it lies in separating our expectations from the joy of supporting our teams. This Saturday, college football enters a brief lull, the calm before the storm of Rivalry Week. Teams like Georgia will face Charlotte in what could be the last home game until next September. This Saturday might represent the final opportunity to gather with fellow fans, share a meal, and watch players—seniors and promising freshmen alike—take the field together.

Why must we insist on defining every game as a referendum on whether our team can win it all? Why not just relish the experience? Sports, at their core, should be about enjoyment. Yet the human condition seems to dictate that joy is fleeting, while an insatiable yearning for the next accomplishment remains eternal. “This paradise bores me. Bring me new paradise.”