Dec 27, 2023; San Diego, CA, USA; Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt at the Holiday Bowl at Petco Park. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

There’s never any shortage of criticism over how the college football schedule shakes out, but that criticism has been magnified this year as a result of the expanded 12-team playoff.

The new format has pushed the College Football Playoff National Championship all the way to late January, a time when college football fans are not yet accustomed to watching the biggest game of the year. Whether or not that will show in the ratings is yet to be seen, but it hasn’t stopped some from complaining that the new schedule already needs a rethink.

Fox college football analyst Joel Klatt is among those unhappy with when the title game is being played in the new format. And the oft-opinionated pundit took to X on Monday to express exactly why.

“This is supposed to be the pinnacle of our sport,” Klatt began. “The destination for every player, coach, and fan…yet somebody decided that playing the National Championship on a Monday night deep into the NFL playoffs was a good idea…the mismanagement of CFB has been egregious.”

Klatt certainly wouldn’t be the first to criticize when the national title game is played. Countless fans and media members alike have complained throughout the years about the Monday night kick. But it’s worth revisiting the conversation after the playoff’s expansion. Now, instead of being played the Monday after NFL regular season play ends, the title game is played immediately following the NFL’s divisional round.

For some, that may create some football fatigue. After four critical NFL games on Saturday and Sunday, asking fans to watch another game on Monday night may be too much. And to Klatt’s point, the National Championship game may feel overshadowed by the behemoth that is the NFL.

The issue with Klatt’s complaint is that he offers no alternative. What day can the game be played that offers players enough rest but avoids direct NFL competition? Some have suggested moving the first round up a week, but that comes with a whole host of scheduling conflicts itself.

The reality is, the College Football Playoff has to make the best of a less-than-ideal scenario. Do they risk being second fiddle to the NFL under the current format? Yes. But is Monday night in a standalone window still a strong viewership play? Certainly.

Monday night’s viewership numbers will go a long way in determining whether the College Football Playoff committee takes Klatt’s complaints to heart. But priority No. 1 may be to stop competing directly head-to-head with the NFL during the first round.

About Drew Lerner

Drew Lerner is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and an aspiring cable subscriber. He previously covered sports media for Sports Media Watch. Future beat writer for the Oasis reunion tour.