USC and UCLA urged to reschedule rivalry game for 24-team CFP era
If the College Football Playoff expands to 24 teams, strategic scheduling adjustments may be required to prevent the devaluation of the Trojans-Bruins rivalry in the face of new postseason incentives.
The implementation of a 24-team College Football Playoff introduces structural complexities that could fundamentally alter the strategic calculus of late-season matchups. According to analysis from Trojans Wire, USC and UCLA are advised to consider rescheduling their annual rivalry game to occur one week earlier in the season if the expanded format is adopted. The proposal seeks to mitigate the risk of the rivalry losing its competitive integrity due to the incentives created by additional playoff rounds.
Under the current scheduling model, the USC-UCLA contest is typically positioned late in the regular season, often immediately preceding conference championship games. However, with ongoing discussions regarding the potential removal or reduction of these title games, the final week of the regular season—traditionally rivalry week—could become the immediate precursor to the first round of the expanded playoffs. This proximity creates a scenario where teams might prioritize resting their starting players for the postseason over competing fully in the rivalry match.
The suggested adjustment involves moving the rivalry game up by one week. This would allow both universities to schedule a less competitive opponent for the final week of the regular season. By placing a weaker opponent in the season finale, teams that qualify for the 24-team CFP could rotate their starters and manage player workload without diminishing the stakes of their annual clash against each other.
This strategic realignment is designed to ensure that the rivalry remains a significant event rather than a casualty of playoff logistics. If the game is played as the season finale, the incentive to rest key players for the first playoff round becomes a tangible concern. Shifting the rivalry to an earlier date preserves its importance and ensures that both teams are likely to field their strongest lineups.
The proposal highlights the broader governance challenges facing college football as it adapts to larger playoff structures. While the specific opponents for the proposed "cupcake" matchup have not been identified, the suggestion to play them in late August or on Labor Day weekend offers a potential framework for the adjustment. The move is contingent on the eventual implementation of the 24-team format and the finalisation of conference championship game structures.
