Things are starting to fall into place as the bidding process for portions of college football’s new postseason will begin in earnest.
ESPN is reportedly “closing in” on purchasing the three-game playoff package that follows the 2014 season, and has already extended its agreement with the Rose Bowl through 2026, said to be worth around $80 million annually.
The so-called “Champions Bowl”, which pairs the Big 12 and SEC conference champions and was designed to ensure a quality postseason matchup that brought in the maximum value of media revenue possible, should net a TV deal similar to, but separate of, the Rose Bowl. However, the bowl must first figure out which city will host the game. CBSSports reports the bidding process for that right will start next week.
Dallas and Atlanta are one of a handful of cities interested in hosting the Champions Bowl, which will likely be among the six major bowls used as rotating playoff sites. Of those cities, Dallas is apparently the favorite. If the metroplex does in fact land the Champions Bowl, it would reportedly then become the Cotton Bowl. Likewise, if Atlanta grabs the hosting rights, it would be the Chick-fil-A Bowl and so on.
Which networks buys up the Champions Bowl is to be determined, but as I’ve said before, it’s easier if there are less networks involved in the broadcasts given the layers in which these postseason packages can be sold.