College Football vs. NFL

If there is a line drawn somewhere in the sand, chances are I’m standing on one side of it. Simply put, I’m an opinionated person. I very rarely find myself straddling the line unable to form an opinion on a controversial topic. I don’t mean to suggest that I don’t see both sides of an argument, just that I typically lean one way or the other.

But now I find myself at a crossroads on a topic which I never thought would draw such a line in my sandbox: college football vs. the NFL.

As with all significant issues facing this world today, there are two distinct sides to the football world: fans of college football and fans of the NFL. Both sides could passionately state their case why their version of the game is superior or why the other’s format is inferior. There are people, like myself, who truly enjoy both forms of the game. However, if you are sitting in a pub on a fall weekend and the issue comes up, you’re going to have to choose a side. So which side do you choose: college football or the NFL? Which game is more suited to your liking in its current format? While I was formally in the college football camp, I now find myself struggling to choose a side.

NFL:

Quality of Play:

Professional football offers and opportunity to watch the most talented athletes in the world compete on the biggest stage. The competitors in the National Football League are some of the most talented, athletically gifted specimens on earth. They possess unmatched skills and speed compared to any other form of the game. There are far fewer dropped passes, missed field goals and unforced errors in the NFL compared to college football. The hits are harder, the players are faster, and every aspect of the game is generally more polished at the professional level.

Atmosphere:

While there are always exceptions to the rule, the atmosphere at NFL games is typically less electric than that on a college campus. Games are mostly played on Sunday afternoons which can sometimes limit the fun. The stadiums are usually very nice and modern, offering great amenities and the kicker: they sell booze! The stadiums do get loud, especially in the playoffs, but walking around outside of the stadium just doesn’t feel the same in the professional version.

Schedule:

Another huge bonus for the NFL is that you know your team’s complete schedule months ahead of time which allows for concrete travel plans, etc. Other than the rare “flex option” that the NFL has instituted, game times and dates will not be changed. The downside of the NFL schedule is that it can be difficult to attend road games since most games are on Sunday and would require a day off of work or school to attend. Having a Monday Night Football game once or twice per year is a good change-up as well.

Postseason:

The Superbowl is the biggest spectacle in all of American sports. It is the most watched and largest grossing event in sports. The format for the postseason is clear: win enough games to be in the top six teams in your conference (or the top team in your division) and you make the playoffs. The outcome is decided on the field with the winner advancing to the next round. There is no room for interpretation, bias or financial influence: championships are won and lost on the field, not in a corporate boardroom.

Other Intangibles:

Fantasy football is one of the greatest creations in all of sports. It turns the moderate NFL fan into a slightly more knowledgeable, slightly more intense NFL fan. It makes games in which you have no rooting interest much more watchable and exposes you to players that you had no idea about before you started playing. Other sports offer fantasy leagues but none can hold a candle to fantasy football. This should be a major talking point in the argument why the NFL is better.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL:

Quality of Play:

College football features the future talent of the NFL, so there is definitely something to be said for that. The quality and speed of the college game are adequate enough to allow for spectacular moments and unforgettable displays of athletic ability. Rosters are not full of superb talent from top to bottom, like the NFL, but there is enough in the BCS conferences to make the games very enjoyable to watch.

Atmosphere:

The atmosphere at a college football game is unmatched in any sport in the United States. Gamedays are an overwhelming spectacle involving marching bands, live mascots, cheerleaders, choreographed fight songs and cheers, as well as a younger crowd which has a different feel from an NFL game (typically comprised mostly of men above the age of 30). Stadiums are generally historic and blend into campus which makes for a very beautiful scene. You won’t find state-of-the-art amenities, but you will feel the sense of history and tradition as you walk through college stadiums. The whole town just feels special during the week of a big game. It really is indescribable; you have to experience to understand what I’m talking about.

Tailgating/Pre-Game:

One of the best parts of college football is the tailgating experience. Game times in college range from 11A.M. to 8:00 P.M. local time, so tailgating can be done before games, after games, or both. Nothing beats tailgating all day before a big game, something that is extremely rare in the NFL since most games are played at noon or 1:00PM local time.

Schedule:

Every game is important in the college football season. Every. Single. Game. This can work as both a positive and a negative for the sport. If you have championship aspirations and lose at the wrong time, your whole season can be ruined in one week. However, that makes every game exciting, whether you are playing against the #1 team in the country or a cupcake, you feel that sense of urgency to win. A loss in the NFL can be easily shrugged off since you can lose eight games and still make the playoffs during certain years.

Postseason:

The college football postseason can be summed up in one word: terrible. The fate of each program is decided by voters, not by wins and losses. It is a beauty pageant in which only a select few actually have a chance to compete. Of course, the consolation to the 118 teams which are excluded every year consists of meaningless (and usually excruciatingly boring) bowl games such as this year’s Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, ID between Idaho and Bowling Green. Other than the BCS National Championship Game, the college football postseason is meaningless and essentially unwatchable.

Other Intangibles:

When you go to a college football game, it is more of a total experience involving special traditions and local bar scenes which are usually a great time. Also, points must be awarded for stunning co-eds that can be seen in abundance at college games.

RESULTS:

Quality of play: NFL

Atmosphere: College

Pre-game/Tailgating: College

Schedule: Tie

Postseason: NFL

Other intangibles: NFL

The NFL nudged out college 3-2 on the graded categories. With some adjustments to the postseason format, college football could become the most intriguing form of the sport. But until the system is fixed, it is too broken to be declared the winner. I still don’t know which side of the line I’d be standing on if forced to pick my favorite form of the game, but based on the criteria above, the NFL makes a stronger case.