YEAR IN REVIEW 201415 EDITION CONTENTS 3 Highlights and Accomplishments 10 Governance 13 College Football Playoff Overview 16 New Year’s Bowls 19 Playoff Semifinals 22 Championship Week 28 National Championship Game 34 College Football Playoff Foundation 40 CFP Digital 43 What They Are Saying 1 2 3 HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS 47% of college football fans Sellout crowds at all three The postseason college were more interested in playoff games. (91,322 at football fan base grew by regular-season games versus the College Football Playoff 8.5 million. Interest increased The new College Football The College Football Playoff More than 33 million the prior year. Semifinal at the Rose Bowl by 4.8% in 2014-15, reversing Playoff postseason structure Semifinals and the College Americans watched the Game presented by a trend. created an exciting four-team Football Playoff National national championship Northwestern Mutual; 74,682 playoff that preserved the Championship, broadcast game in 2015. at the College Football Playoff best regular season in sports by ESPN, were the most Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar and protected America’s rich watched events in cable Bowl; 85,689 at the College bowl tradition. television history. Football Playoff National Championship). 4 5 HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Inaugural College Football Television broadcast drew the Over 56 million viewers College Football Playoff In 2014, the trophy traveled The trophy was shown and Playoff Semifinals two largest audiences in cable combined for the two National Championship across the United States mentioned on ESPN’s family played at the Rose Bowl television history. broadcasts. Trophy presented by throughout college football’s of networks during 20 Game presented by Dr Pepper Unveiled on regular season. The trophy different game telecasts. Northwestern Mutual and July 14, 2014. was on the road for a total of the Allstate Sugar Bowl. 104 days, making 91 appearances and providing photo opportunities for over 34,000 fans. 6 7 HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship Played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. • No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 4 Ohio State. • 85,689 in attendance at AT&T Stadium. • Delivered largest audience in cable television history with over 33 million viewers. • ESPN Megacast supplemented the traditional telecast with more than a dozen alternate productions across various multimedia platforms. • Highest-rated college football game ever on Spanish language TV and the highest-rated football game of all time on ESPN Deportes. • Data usage numbers at AT&T Stadium doubled previous high-water mark for a sporting event. • Cellular data traffic was 125% greater than experienced at 2014 Super Bowl XLVIII. • 568,000 social posts through fan activation, voting and designated game hashtags. • Social media reach of over 118 million social impressions. • Nominted for SportsBusiness Journal’s Sports Event of the Year. 8 9 GOVERNANCE CFP Administration, LLC, manages the administrative operations of the College Football Playoff. Members include the 10 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences (American Athletic, Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big Ten, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-12, Southeastern and Sun Belt) and the University of Notre Dame. Board of Managers The company’s business, property and affairs are governed by the board. The board develops, reviews and approves annual budgets, policies and operating guidelines. It also appoints and removes officers of the company. It has authority of over all aspects of the company’s operations. Rodney Bennett Mark Keenum Bill Powers President, University of President, Mississippi State President, University of Southern Mississippi (C-USA) University (SEC) Texas (Big 12) Anthony Frank Roderick McDavis Donna E. Shalala President, Colorado State President, Ohio University President, University of University (Mountain West) (MAC) Miami (ACC) Jack Hawkins Max Nikias Steadman Upham Chancellor, Troy University President, University of President, University of (Sun Belt) Southern California (Pac-12) Tulsa (American Athletic) Rev. John Jenkins Harvey Perlman (chair) President, University of Notre Chancellor, University of Dame (Independent) Nebraska (Big Ten) 10 11 GOVERNANCE Management Committee The committee manages the day-to-day operations of the company. It has authority over those aspects of the company’s operations that are not reserved exclusively for the board, but all of its decisions are subject to review by the board. Mike Aresco Jim Delany Jack Swarbrick Commissioner Commissioner (Big Ten) Athletics Director (American Athletic) Larry Scott (Notre Dame) Britton Banowsky Commissioner (Pac-12) John Swofford Commissioner (C-USA) Mike Slive Commissioner (ACC) Karl Benson Commissioner (SEC) Craig Thompson Commissioner (Sun Belt) Jon Steinbrecher Commissioner Bob Bowlsby Commissioner (MAC) (Mountain West) Commissioner (Big 12) Athletics Directors Advisory Group The management committee has appointed the athletics directors group to offer counsel on operational matters pertaining directly to the participating institutions. The athletics directors group is advisory only and does not have any authority in managing the company’s affairs. Gary Barta Joe Castiglione Chris Massaro Athletics Director, Athletics Director, Athletics Director, Middle University of Iowa (Big Ten) University of Oklahoma Tennessee State (C-USA) Tom Bowen (Big 12) Terry Mohajir Athletics Director, Jeremy Foley Athletics Director, Arkansas University of Memphis Athletics Director, State University (Sun Belt) (American Athletic) University of Florida (SEC) Mike O’Brien Tom Burman Dan Guerrero Athletics Director, Athletics Director, Athletics Director, University of Toledo (MAC) University of Wyoming University of California, Stan Wilcox (Mountain West) Los Angeles (Pac-12) Athletics Director, Florida State University (ACC) 12 13 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF OVERVIEW COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF OVERVIEW Final CFP Rankings 2014-15 College College Football Playoff Staff 1 Alabama Football Playoff • Bill Hancock • Gina Lehe 2 Oregon Selection Committee Executive Director Senior Director of 3 Florida State • Jeff Long (chair) • Laila Brock Communications and 4 Ohio State • Barry Alvarez Director of Team Operations Brand Management 5 Baylor • Mike Gould and Logistics • Shawn Moore 6 TCU • Pat Haden • Allison Doughty Director of Community 7 Mississippi State • Tom Jernstedt Director of Events and Relations 8 Michigan State • Oliver Luck Hospitality Services • Jason Sabatino 9 Mississippi • Archie Manning • Ken Elder Director of Business and 10 Arizona • Tom Osborne Senior Director of Marketing Ticket Operations 11 Kansas State • Dan Radakovich and Strategic Partnerships • Reid Sigmon 12 Georgia Tech • Condoleezza Rice • Nikki Epley Chief Financial Officer 13 Georgia • Mike Tranghese Director of Stadium and The College Football Playoff Selection Committee is a 14 UCLA • Steve Wieberg Game Operations Interns talented group of high-integrity individuals with experience 15 Arizona State • Tyrone Willingham • Wes Gentry • Ella Forrest as coaches, student-athletes, collegiate administrators and 16 Missouri Director of Administration Events and Operations journalists, along with sitting athletics directors. 17 Clemson • Toni Gockel • Ben Habern 18 Wisconsin Special Projects Coordinator Community Relations and In 2014, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee 19 Auburn • Michael Kelly Strategic Partnerships met weekly, in person, on Mondays and Tuesdays to produce 20 Boise State Chief Operating Officer • Kristen Pugh rankings. The first set of rankings were announced on October 21 Louisville • Lauren Lanier Ticketing and Hospitality 28, with additional rankings released for the following five 22 Utah Communications Coordinator • Ali Rogers weeks. On December 7, 2014, the selection committee 23 LSU Communications and unveiled its final rankings of the season. 24 Southern California Brand Management 25 Minnesota 14 15 NEW YEAR’S BOWLS DECEMBER 31, 2014 • Attendance 65,706 In the first-ever New Year’s bowl matchup of the playoff era, the TCU Horned Frogs routed the Ole Miss Rebels 42-3 at the Georgia Dome. The victory in the 47th Peach Bowl marked the TCU’s 14th bowl win in program history. The last time the two teams met was in 1983. DECEMBER 31, 2014 • Attendance 66,896 The first meeting between the Boise State Broncos and the Arizona Wildcats, the 44th Fiesta Bowl saw the Broncos’ offense lead the team to a 38-30 victory at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Boise State moved to 3-0 all-time in the Fiesta Bowl. 16 17 NEW YEAR’S BOWLS DECEMBER 31, 2014 • Attendance 58,211 Playing in the 81st Orange Bowl, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets claimed the program’s 24th bowl win, defeating the Mississippi State Bulldogs 49-34 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Georgia Tech’s 452 rushing yards set an Orange Bowl record. JANUARY 1, 2015 • Attendance 71,464 On New Year’s Day, the Michigan State Spartans defeated the Baylor Bears 42-41 at AT&T Stadium. The 83 combined points made the game the highest scoring Cotton Bowl in history. Michigan State finished the season 11-2, tied for second-most wins in school history. 18 19 PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS JANUARY 1, 2015 • Attendance 91,322 JANUARY 1, 2015 • Attendance 74,682 The No. 2 Oregon Ducks defeated the No. 3 Florida State Seminoles 59-20 in the first semifinal The No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes, led