Overview
- The Rose Bowl hosted a College Football Playoff quarterfinal on Jan. 1, 2026 between Indiana and Alabama, renewing debate over its postseason stature.
- Commentary urges making the game at least a permanent New Year’s Day semifinal, with some advocating an annual championship in Pasadena despite business headwinds.
- A proposed restructure would expand the playoff to 16 teams with no byes, start a week after conference championships, and assign the Rose Bowl a fixed New Year’s Day semifinal slot.
- Analysts note revenue realities favor modern NFL stadiums for the title game, citing SoFi Stadium’s 260 suites and 13,000 premium seats versus the Rose Bowl’s 54 suites and 1,200 premium seats.
- Critics highlight calendar flaws such as Indiana’s 26‑day layoff and the poor record of bye teams, while the 2026 game also marked the final Rose Bowl under ESPN’s media rights deal.