Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsSaturday, June 20, 2026

College football playoff: Turn down San Diego if you dare

San Diego submitted a bid to host a playoff semifinal along with some traditional college football bowl sites. The city is surely an underdog to get a game, but maybe it shouldn’t be?

Cities have put in bids to host the semifinal games for the college football playoff coming in 2014. The Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl have already been locked in as semifinal sites, which will be rotated every three years through 2026. That left three remaining spots, and conventional wisdom seemed to dictate that those spots would go to Dallas (Cotton Bowl), Phoenix (Fiesta Bowl) and Atlanta (Chick-fil-A Bowl), three major cities with a long history of pulling off major bowl games every year.

Well, as it turns out, those three cities all submitted bids to host semifinal games. They weren’t alone, though, as San Diego also put in a bid, according to ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, presenting us with a delightful case of “which one is not like the others.”

Every year, San Diego hosts the eternally delightful Holiday Bowl and regularly hosts the Super Bowl. However, when put up against traditional college football tent poles like the Cotton, Fiesta and Chick-fil-A Bowls, it just doesn't have the same cachet. Perhaps if the bid committee tried to draw on the unique allures of the San Diego area, it might have a chance. However, what exactly are those allures?

  • The zoo. People still like zoos, right? Look at the size of that got dang zoo
  • San Diego has an arena specifically to hold roller derby and indoor soccer
  • The city still looks like it’s in 1977, which should be back in style any minute now
  • Fish tacos, which are unavailable anywhere else in the country shut up shut up it’s the truth
  • Definitively more chill than those other three cities combined
  • Did you even watch Terriers?

Just try and say no, playoff people.

More from SB Nation:

Exclusive with Tommy Tuberville

SB Nation reports Sun Belt expansion

SB Nation’s Garnet & Black Attack interviews Marcus Lattimore

SB Nation’s Maize n Brew interviews Denard Robinson

College football’s most penalized teams and flag-happy refs

What if March Madness had football ... | ... Or football had Madness

College Football
The NCAA can appeal Brendan Sorsby’s shocking reinstatement, but Texas law isn’t on their sideThe NCAA can appeal Brendan Sorsby’s shocking reinstatement, but Texas law isn’t on their side
College Football

A big can of worms has been opened in college sports

By Mark Schofield
College Football
Here’s your first look at ‘College Football 27’ and ‘Madden 27’Here’s your first look at ‘College Football 27’ and ‘Madden 27’
College Football

Mascot game! Tush push!

By James Dator
NFL
Brendan Sorsby’s gambling allegations could end his college football career. Is NFL Supplemental Draft next?Brendan Sorsby’s gambling allegations could end his college football career. Is NFL Supplemental Draft next?
NFL

Brendan Sorsby calls out NCAA hypocrisy as his football future is uncertain

By Mark Schofield
College Football
NAACP urges black athletes to reject recruiting in racially gerrymandered statesNAACP urges black athletes to reject recruiting in racially gerrymandered states
College Football

The NAACP is asking athletes to take up the fight for voting rights.

By James Dator
College Football
Oregon coach asks recruits about their favorite ice cream, and it actually makes senseOregon coach asks recruits about their favorite ice cream, and it actually makes sense
College Football

Oregon coaches have a strange question for potential recruits.

By Mark Schofield
NFL
Why Jeremiyah Love brings top-5 value to NFL Draft as a RBWhy Jeremiyah Love brings top-5 value to NFL Draft as a RB
NFL

The Notre Dame star is the rare running back worth a top-10 or even top-5 pick.

By Mark Schofield