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CFP Adjusts Kickoff Times to Compete with NFL

12/18/2025

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Summary

Story summary

CFP Executive Director Rich Clark said the College Football Playoff and the NFL adjusted kickoff times to avoid overlap, creating a 90-minute window for the first CFP game.
The matchups—Ole Miss vs. Tulane and Oregon vs. James Madison—are expected to be lopsided, drawing viewers to the NFL.
Last year’s CFP games averaged 7.5 million viewers, while NFL games drew over 15 million, and this year’s matchups may hurt interest.

History

Historical Context

The College Football Playoff (CFP) has evolved since its inception in 2014, culminating in the 2022–23 season, where Georgia won the national championship. In 2022, the CFP adjusted its schedule to avoid NFL conflicts, reflecting the NFL's dominance with over 15 million viewers per game compared to the CFP's 7.5 million, highlighting the need for college football to innovate to retain relevance.

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Story summary

CFP Executive Director Rich Clark said the College Football Playoff and the NFL adjusted kickoff times to avoid overlap, creating a 90-minute window for the first CFP game.
The matchups—Ole Miss vs. Tulane and Oregon vs. James Madison—are expected to be lopsided, drawing viewers to the NFL.
Last year’s CFP games averaged 7.5 million viewers, while NFL games drew over 15 million, and this year’s matchups may hurt interest.

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