Last year, amidst a mini uproar, the College Football Playoff announced that it would be helping families defray the costs of traveling to the inaugural championship game. Ahead of the start of the second season with a playoff system in place, that defraying has been extended.
The CFP announced in a press release “that it will expand its program to offset expenses for student-athletes’ parents or guardians to travel to the Playoff Semifinals this season.” A $2,500 stipend per student-athlete will be doled out to up to 100 families from each of the four semifinalists to help with expenses for hotel accommodations, travel and meals.
The $2,500 stipend per student-athlete family for the CFP championship game will remain in place as well.
“We were pleased to implement this expense-reimbursement program for the first College Football Playoff National Championship and we received warm and sincere positive feedback from the family members,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP, in a statement. “Extending support to the Playoff Semifinals will be another terrific benefit for folks who will be thrilled to be present to celebrate the accomplishments and experiences of their student-athletes.”
This year’s semifinals will be the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl. The 2015 title game will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.