Part 4/11:
A critical point of frustration is the scheduling, which seems designed more around avoiding direct competition with the NFL than maximizing viewership. The first-round playoff games were scheduled at times that coincided with NFL broadcasts, with some games lost to TNT or scheduled during off-peak hours. The decision to put the biggest game of the day at 11 a.m., instead of a more competitive prime-time slot, was branded as another monumental mistake by ESPN.
This scheduling fiasco reflects a broader reluctance among college football organizers and broadcasters to directly challenge the NFL's enormous dominant audience. The fear is that competing too hard might dilute the viewing figures further, but the result has been exactly the opposite: declining ratings and fading interest.