For college football fans, the countdown to Saturday is always exciting—but this year, the postseason picture is getting even more interesting. The list of bowl slots available after the 2026 season has been shrinking, and while many fans might cheer that news, not everyone is ready to say goodbye to the traditions.

Gone are postseason games in Detroit, Los Angeles, and the Bahamas—relics of a bygone era, much like the Bowl Alliance itself. But the bigger question is: will there be more cuts in the years ahead? That all depends on whether the College Football Playoff leaders decide to take a bold leap and expand the field to 24 teams.

Now, some folks will push back, worried about what that means for the bowl system. But here's the thing: adding 12 playoff teams would likely mean losing six bowl games. Honestly, trimming those first few wouldn't hurt much—we could say goodbye without losing any real tradition or history.

The good news? Games held in top-tier stadiums in destination cities aren't going anywhere. And for teams in the Power Four conferences, there will still be plenty of landing spots for squads eager to keep playing past the regular season.

Take Illinois, for example. One early bowl projection from CBS Sports has the Fighting Illini facing Florida State in the Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina. After trips to Orlando and Nashville the past two years, a new bowl destination would be a welcome change—and it would mark Illinois' first-ever bowl game in the Tar Heel State.

Of course, every team's dream is to make the College Football Playoff. But if that doesn't pan out, it's nice to know there are still meaningful games ahead. After all, football season doesn't have to end in November—it can carry on well into December, and that's something worth celebrating.