College Football Playoff will cover family travel for semifinals
The College Football Playoff will now cover family travel for the semifinals in addition to the national championship game, it announced Tuesday.
Last season, during the inaugural playoff, the CFP offered a $1,250 stipend per parent—up to two—for each player on Ohio State and Oregon's roster for the national championship game. The stipend was not approved until January, a few days before the game.
This year, the same stipend will be extended to cover families who wish to attend the semifinal games 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,” Bill Hancock, CFP executuve director, said 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.”
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After last season, bowl payouts for FBS teams reached over $500 million, according to an NCAA report. It cost those teams $100.2 million total to participate. The CFP signed a 12-year, $7.3 billion television contract with ESPN in 2012.
The 2015 CFP is scheduled to begin on New Year's Eve.
- Rohan Nadkarni
