Debunking the Myth: Do First-Round Byes Harm College Football Playoff Success?
Originally Published 9 days ago — by NBC Sports
Over two seasons of the 12-team College Football Playoff, teams with first-round byes have frequently lost in the quarterfinals, raising concerns about the negative effects of long layoffs, known as rust, on top-seeded teams. The trend has prompted discussions about potential format changes, such as starting the playoffs earlier or hosting games on campus to give top seeds an advantage, but no definitive decisions have been made yet.