Nicole Pevzner ’28, Sports Writer 

2025 College Football Playoff Bracket. (Photo courtesy of NCAA)

Decked out in your favorite college merch, you chant and cheer as your team scores a touchdown. The crowd roars with excitement, shaking the bleachers as the marching band belts out the fight song. The scent of stadium popcorn drifts through the cool night air, and suddenly, you and your friends flash on the jumbotron, waving and laughing as thousands cheer around you. This is College Football Playoff season. Beyond the thrilling moments on the field, the College Football Playoffs have an impact extending far beyond the stadium. College Football Playoffs, a postseason single-elimination tournament, was introduced to the sport in 2014. The 2024-2025 National Championship Game, where Ohio State defeated Notre Dame, was the 11th in history and took place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in Atlanta, Georgia. This year, 77,660 people attended the championship game, and according to Yahoo Sports, 22.1 million people watched it on ESPN Networks. The college football playoffs offer benefits beyond extending the normal college football season, boosting local and national economies and improving university branding. 

Football fans traveling to college football cities to watch their favorite teams in the playoffs help local economies thrive. With thousands of fans coming into those cities, hotel prices soar and restaurants bustle with game day crowds. Additionally, the people who come for the game order driving services like Uber or Lyft, creating more profit. While local economies thrive on game day, the financial stakes are even higher on a national level. The College Football Playoff isn’t just a tournament — it’s a billion-dollar industry. According to Investopedia, the College Football Association gained $7.8 billion from a six-year deal with Disney’s ESPN to retain broadcasting rights of the playoffs. This money could help the College Football Association invest more into the association and the playoffs through advertising and social media. The same article also explains that large athletic apparel companies like Nike and Under Armour pay millions to associate their brands with high-profile football teams. These deals aren’t only massive investments — companies like Nike and Under Armour gain millions from the exposure. In addition, a Newark Academy student stated that “the schools can also gain money from sponsorships and ticket sales.”

Along with economies, college football playoffs heavily benefit university branding — a national championship win vastly increases the university’s attention. According to an article published by Signing Day Sports, major bowl games that are highly publicized give universities “national visibility,” making them more attractive to students. Research mentioned in this article shows that college applications rise by 18.7% after a playoff victory, as media exposure attracts more prospective students. Accompanying regular student applicants, a Newark Academy student explained that football victories may appeal to potential recruits as well. Overtime, this could lead to progress on the schools sports programs as they would get better recruits. Besides improving university branding, college football playoffs bring people from these universities together. The same Signing Day Sports article shares that attending football games has become a big part of college culture, bringing together students, residents, staff, faculty members, alumni, and other people associated with the university. Traditions such as tailgates connect these university communities, as it is a place where all these people can socialize and connect. Wearing university merch in public places sparks conversations and builds instant connections over shared football victories. Even in our own NA community, different students are able to connect with one another about the teams they are rooting for in the playoffs. Whether it’s boosting local economies, strengthening school pride, or uniting fans across the country, the College Football Playoffs prove one thing: football is more than a game. The real question is, which team will leave their mark next?