Former Tennessee Vols HC Derek Dooley is poised to have a major impact on the future of college football
Former Tennessee Vols head coach Derek Dooley made a proposal recently that could have a major impact on the future of college football. Dooley, who hasn't served as a head coach since getting fired by Tennessee in late 2012, is pitching a Group of Five Playoff that "would be financially backed by private equity", according […]
Former Tennessee Vols head coach Derek Dooley made a proposal recently that could have a major impact on the future of college football.
Dooley, who hasn't served as a head coach since getting fired by Tennessee in late 2012, is pitching a Group of Five Playoff that "would be financially backed by private equity", according a report from CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd.
Unsurprisingly, a main source of motivation for the playoff is money.
From CBS Sports: The concept would address — if not be motivated by — disappointment felt by the Group of Five conferences (MAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt, American and Conference USA) over revenue distribution shares under the new College Football Playoff media rights agreement. The average program in those conferences will receive $1.8 million per year in CFP revenue beginning in 2026 under the new deal, up from the current $1.5 million payout.
The Group of Five splits 9% of the annual $1.3 billion deal with ESPN. While the payout marks an increase in raw numbers, it is a percentage decrease considering the Group of Five received 22% of the pot in the prior deal (2014-23).
As for how the playoff would look, one aspect that could be intriguing would be the eight division champions playing at the end of the season for the Group of Five's guaranteed College Football Playoff berth.
From CBS Sports: While Dooley's idea is in the development stages, sources stressed that financial involvement would be more than just funding a playoff. In one iteration of the proposal, as described to CBS Sports, eight division champions would play at the end of the regular season for the Group of Five's guaranteed CFP berth. "Significant dollars" would be at stake, according to one source with knowledge of the pitch. Such an arrangement would require the 62 teams contained in the Group of Five conferences realigning into eight-team divisions.
We'll see if Dooley's proposal gains any traction in the coming months. Hopefully it does. It's a fun idea that would bring some excitement and structure to the lower levels of college football while also providing a big stage for Group of Five Players.
If the first couple of weeks of December get to focus on a Group of Five playoff while the rest of the sport takes a couple of weeks off, it will inevitably lead to more eyes on those players. And more eyes equals more opportunities and, of course, more money. It's a win/win for everyone.
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