Nobody is going to lose them in the shuffle when they are the only 2 games that actually mean anything. I'm pretty sure there is only 1 bowl game at 3:30 (Rose Bowl) and 1 bowl game at night (whatever BCS game it is). Those can easily be the 2 playoff games and the Rose Bowl can just suck it up and play their game on NYE or the 2nd The NCAA will never dictate to the Rose Bowl when that game is played. It will always be New Year's Day. Lost in the shuffle is the wrong phrase, but the networks are going to want to have the playoff games on their own day. Which is fine, as long as its not NYE. Just have them on the 2nd or whatever Nah. NYD will ensure the most viewers, which is of course what they care about. There is enough money at stake that they can probably strong arm the Rose Bowl by threatening to remove them as an Access Bowl or whatever the big six are called now. For the next five years the 2nd falls on a workday, so that ain't happening. NYD is the perfect day for the playoff. The Rose Bowl will just have to get over themselves. So long as they remain an Access Bowl, they'll still get to do their thing on NYD every three years.