College football has long been a staple of American sports, but it wasn't until recently that it embraced a legitimate postseason tournament. This momentous change has brought with it a host of challenges and opportunities. Let's take a closer look at how this tournament came to be and what the future holds.

Unveiling the New Era of College Football Postseason

The Early Beginnings

The roots of college football's postseason can be traced back to the Rose Parade in Pasadena. In 1902, Michigan and Stanford played in the parade, marking the beginning of an annual tradition. Over the years, other cities joined in, and by the 1930s, the Rose, Orange, Sugar, and Cotton bowls became annual fixtures. These games became deeply ingrained in the local tourism economy and the fabric of college football.However, while other sports had moved towards playoffs, college football remained steadfast with the bowl games serving as its postseason. This led to a situation where the top two teams in the sport often never played each other, and different polls would crown different national champions.

The Quest for Change

Back-to-back split titles in 1990 and 1991 sparked the need for change. Over the next 35 years, a series of systems were tried, including the Bowl Alliance, Bowl Coalition, and Bowl Championship Series. These systems aimed to pair the two best teams in the country to play for the title, but the ranking formulas were often controversial.In 2014, the BCS gave way to the College Football Playoff with a four-team postseason. While this was a step forward, it also highlighted issues such as the widening gap between playoff and non-playoff games and the selection process.

The First 12-Team Playoff

Finally, after decades of waiting, college football has its first 12-team postseason. The first round kicks off this Friday and Saturday, with four games on campuses steeped in gridiron tradition. The winners advance to play over the New Year's holiday, with the national title game in Atlanta on January 20.This expanded playoff brings with it a host of challenges, such as travel for fans and the impact on classroom time. But it also offers new opportunities for teams to compete for a national championship.

The Future of College Football Postseason

Within a year or two, this tournament is likely to expand to 14 teams. The issue of "access" - which conferences get in and how many teams they are allowed - will be at the forefront of the debate. There is also a growing separation between the SEC and Big Ten and the rest of college football, which makes many in the sport uneasy.But one thing is clear: college football's first wild ride through the playoffs will be a memorable one. As the tournament unfolds, we will see how these challenges are overcome and what the future holds for college football.