Be sure of this: If anyone suggests they know what the future holds for the college football postseason, for what direction the playoff or bowl games might be headed, they’re exaggerating.
Nobody knows.
Not even those in charge of knowing.
It will all be settled in time, but there is a legitimate point about what might happen to bowl games once the College Football Playoff decides its own fate.
Will it expand? Will it remain the same?
What is to become of the bowl system as we know it?
Be sure of this also: The Las Vegas Bowl needs to remain as it is. It’s too important to our community beyond just one day and four quarters and three hours.
It’s more than just a game.
A memorable experience
Some history: When it was just an idea of a few community leaders 35 years ago, the main vision for the bowl was to drive tourism to Las Vegas in December. This part has never really changed.
But when ESPN became involved a decade later, the goals expanded. The network would take ownership and management of the game and the LVCVA would help support it via sponsorship funding. It was No. 1 in the ESPN events portfolio.
The idea also was to create a memorable experience for the players and their families as future Las Vegas customers, to become a platform that would open all doors for college athletics to find a home in Southern Nevada.
And it has.
It is the second longest annual running sporting event here next to the National Finals Rodeo.
“We brought (conference) commissioners here and educated them on Las Vegas,” bowl executive director John Saccenti said. “We’re still doing what we were asked to do 25 years ago when we acquired this game. We’ve grown the game every single year, and every single cycle we’ve taken a step up. Other college events are here now because of that education about the town.
“If the (Las Vegas Bowl) ever went away, we’d lose the opportunity to showcase our city to others. I start our meeting with players the same way every year, asking how many have ever been to Las Vegas. Every year, 80 percent of them have never been here.”
It’s also about the year-round charitable work the bowl does. How it helps others in town. How it provides needed school supplies for teachers and students. How so many are affected by its presence. Opportunity Village. After School All-Stars. Goodie Two Shoes. Make A Wish.
And the value of it is seen by the network and others.
“Las Vegas is the sports capital of the world in so many ways,” said Clint Overby of ESPN Events. “It should have a meaningful college football relationship and partnership in whatever you want to call it in an effort to extend the season. Our part as college football evolves is to make sure Las Vegas is best positioned for whatever that postseason looks like.”
Said Hall of Fame coach Urban Meyer, guest speaker at a Las Vegas Bowl luncheon this week: “I’ve seen it. I’ve witnessed it. I know the desire for bowl games is still alive. I hope there can be a legitimate long-term connection between the playoffs and bowls. I think they’re both about what college football means.”
Nobody knows
Should the CFP one day begin bidding out its quarterfinals and semifinals — a real possibility — the Vegas bowl game could play a major role in hosting such an event. It has the infrastructure and staff and people who know how to execute such things in a short period of time.
Nobody knows what’s going to happen. Nobody knows the future of college football. But know this: The Las Vegas Bowl is more than just a day. More than a game. More than four quarters and three hours.
“As things evolve and change, we have to make sure we’re positioned to adapt to those changes,” Saccenti said, “We are a world-class destination people want to come to. We have a world-class stadium people want to come to. All the pieces are in place. We’re going to continue to do what we do and showcase the city and put on a good show.
“This is an important market. Power 4 conferences want to be here. They know as long as we’re able to adapt to the changing times of college football, we’ll continue being better and better.”
Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.
