Semifinals unlikely to move from New Year’s Eve

GLENDALE, Ariz. — For those frustrated that the national semifinals are played on New Year's Eve, don't look for that to change any time soon.

Either the Rose Bowl or Sugar Bowl would have to move from New Year's Day, and neither is likely to happen. Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey made it clear Sunday morning that the Sugar would remain on that date except for the rare times like next year when the bowl will be played on Jan. 2 because the day before is a Sunday and conflicts with the NFL playoffs.

He also didn't seem that bothered about the semis being on New Year's Eve two of every three years.

"We've got a direction that's set," Sankey said. "The direction that is set would suggest the answer to that question is no."

College football started its playoff system last year to rousing success, but both semifinals were on New Year's Day because they were hosted by the Rose and Sugar bowls. Those games are part of what's now called the New Year's Six bowls.

With the Rose and Sugar sticking to Jan. 1, that allows for only one other bowl slot on that day. Officials want the semifinals played on the same day, so this season's sites, the Cotton and Orange bowls, hosted those games on Dec. 31.

TV ratings for all six games dropped by 13 percent, though the lack of game drama didn't help. The average margin of victory was 24.2 points.

As for the semifinals, viewership dropped by 34.4 percent, from 28.3 million the year before to 18.6 million this season.

"The decline for the six games I view as modest and not particularly surprising," said Bill Hancock, College Football Playoff executive director. "The decline for the semifinals was more than I thought it might be. We need to sit back and look at the data when it comes in to determine how much of it was due to New Year's Eve and the non-competitive games as well as what I think will prove to be lesser factors, but still factors, one of which is the newness wore off."

He said patience was needed for the playoff system to grow.

"Our expectation might have been too high on expecting an immediate cultural change on New Year's Eve," Hancock said. "But I also think over time that holiday will become different, and football will become more ingrained in it."

NFL DECISIONS — No. 1 Clemson plays No. 2 Alabama at 5:30 p.m. PST today in the College Football Playoff National Championship, but some suspense will continue after the game when players of those teams announce whether they will turn pro.

Alabama coach Nick Saban and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said they wished the NFL would delay its evaluation system until after a team finishes its season.

"It's a distraction that all of us have to deal with," Swinney said. "Obviously, it's just two of us left at this point. You get the grades, and some guys didn't get the grade that they want, so they're pouting a little bit and got to pick themselves up. Then you get the guy that gets the grade he wants."

Sankey said there was only so much those at the college level could do to convince the NFL to change its system.

"It is an NFL structure, an NFL policy," Sankey said.

DOUBLE DUTY — Tom Herman showed it could be done last season when he served as Ohio State's offensive coordinator and Houston's head coach. The Buckeyes easily won the national championship, and Houston went on this season to represent the Group of Five conferences in a New Year's Six game. The Cougars beat Florida State in the Peach Bowl.

Now Kirby Smart is trying to duplicate Herman's success, serving as Alabama's defensive coordinator and Georgia's new head coach. He is working on the Crimson Tide's game plan and recruiting for the Bulldogs.

"I've relished the opportunity, enjoyed it," Smart said. "Every coach in the country would like to have this opportunity."

Saban has fully supported who will soon become a rival coach, even providing an assistant to help Smart.

"Kirby has done a fantastic job, and I certainly appreciate the fact that he's stuck here with us and done a really good job so far in trying to finish this year for our players, and I think that's the No. 1 reason that he's here," Saban said. "I'm sure he's going to be a very, very successful head coach."

— Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.