2025 Season

Exploring the horrors of the College Football Playoff's online shop

A 2StripesCPD exclusive investigation.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone! My apologies for being MIA on the site for the first round of the playoff. I flew back home to see my family, realized how burnt out I was, and got sick in the process. I'm not sure I could've added anything to the playoff discourse anyway, outside of how funny it was watching people pretend Texas A&M-Miami wasn't complete ass because it came down to the final seconds. Anyway, I'll be back next week with a recap of Ohio State-Miami in Bulletpoints, and thoughts on the rest of the quarterfinal games.

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It's no secret how hard official sports fan merchandise has fallen off over the last decade. Jerseys no longer have stitching –unless you want to spend $400 –, logos/lettering on clothing fade after one wash, and overall design is largely in the gutter. Most of the blame for this can be placed squarely on the grubby hands of Fanatics, but others (NIKE) share it, too. Official College Football Playoff merch is a prime example of just how dire the situation is. The premise for this article was born last year, when the CFP kicked off its 12-team era with nothing but misses:

With the second 12-team playoff already upon us, I thought it'd be a good idea to visit the CFP's official online shop and see if they've learned anything over the past year. What I found will shock and horrify you.

Exploring the horrors of the College Football Playoff's online shop

Exclusive 12 Teams Playoff Long Sleeve - $55

A reminder that things can always get lower than rock bottom. Somehow even worse than last year's design. It's honestly so bad that it might be worth buying just to say you have it.

Exclusive 12 Teams Playoff Hoodie - $80

This hoodie is the undisputed heavyweight champion of fitting circles inside other circles. I count at least five! Note how weird the helmets are lined up via their playoff ranking, too. Instead of being clockwise from 1-12 (Indiana to James Madison) they go from 1-6 on the left, and 7-12 on the right. Lastly, when are companies going to learn that modern-style helmets look way worse on merch than old school helmets?

College Football Playoff Spark Polo - $85

The official golf shirt of guys who get addicted to Zyn because they're too scared to chew actual tobacco. This 6 mg has me on Pluto, boys!

Cutter & Buck Madison Eco Stretch Polo - $100

I can almost guarantee that a clothing company called 'Cutter & Buck' comes from the mind of an Ole Miss graduate.

Ladies V-Neck Splatter Black Tee - $28

The College Football Playoff goes full 'Live, Laugh, Love.' If you see one of these behind you at a game, you better sit your ass in your seat during that key third down, pal.

2025-26 Bracket Tee - $40

Can you imagine a 68-team March Madness bracket shirt? Sounds kinda fire, now that I mention it.

First Round Matchup Ticket Tee - Originally $35, now $19.95

I'll give credit where it's due: I like the ticket design. At 19.95, this isn't a bad purchase for a Miami/Alabama fan if there's an A&M/Oklahoma fan in your life you want to annoy.

College Football Playoff Repeating Name Tee - $45

$45 is way too much for a shirt with the playoff logo on it and nothing else.

Wait a second - what do they mean by repeati-

Cutter & Buck Eco Stretch Polo - $100

Rep your school colors, but in pastel!

UPDATE:

Just received my CFP JMU polo, I am actually very dissapointed with this quality. The patch is completely see through on the shirt so its not even fleshed correctly to the fabric. For like $120? @CFBPlayoff whats the deal? pic.twitter.com/Cg4Ts3Y2QE
— Tyler Reskovac (@Tyler_Reskovac) December 29, 2025

National Championship Game 2026 Luka HD Full Zip Jacket - $175

Tied for the most expensive item in the CFP shop. The only way this purchase is worth it is if your team wins the national championship, and you have someone who can embroider your team's logo on the front.

12 Team Pennant Tee - $45

The whole point of a pennant is that it's supposed to stand out and make you remember something. The pennants on this shirt are barely legible, and you won't remember anything after they peel off during their first wash. The playoff font also looks like a stock font that content creators/small businesses have to use on their merch so they don't get sued by Adobe.

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Playoff Bound Tee - $45

I used James Madison and Tulane on purpose here because not all playoff merch is equal. Even though they both lost, the memory of each making the playoff and how special their seasons were as G5 programs is worth having a memento of if you're a fan.

First Round Hoodie - Originally $80, now $49.95

I used Texas A&M and Oklahoma on purpose here because not all playoff merch is equal. They both lost in horrific fashion, and the memory of each making the playoff is NOT worth having a memento of if you're a fan.

Oversized Logo Crewneck Sweatshirt - $90

This quietly might be the best item in the shop. I think it'd be a home run if it were stitched instead of screen-printed, though.

Playoff Bound Hoodie - $110

The 40-degree day of hoodies. This design is everything wrong with the current state (and price) of merchandise.

National Championship Game 2026 Miami Beach Views Tee - $45

What you'd expect from a 'Miami Beach Views' t-shirt. That's not necessarily a bad thing, either.

Perry the Pylon Charcoal Tee - $30

I've been fortunate enough to attend two CFP National Championship Games (Alabama-Clemson in 2019, Ohio State-Notre Dame 11 months ago). Maybe it's the over-consumption of Coors Lights from both those nights talking, but I don't remember the CFP having a mascot. He has a whole backstory, too!

National Championship Game 2026 Luka Shorts - $95

I can't front - these are kinda cool. I'm guessing many college football guys have reached their quota on owning shorts with white stains on them, though.

National Championship game 2026 Miami Logo Roam Epic Comfort Recycled Full Zip Hooded Jacket - $140

I saw dozens of Notre Dame fans wearing the 2025 version of this hoodie in the Atlanta airport the morning after last year's national championship. I wonder if wearing it now reminds them more of losing to Ohio State, or the four-hour TSA line and subsequent missed flight that day.

College Football Playoff Carson Pants - $150

Show off your College Football Playoff pride, while also letting EVERYONE know whether you're printed up or not in these slick, 88% Nylon, 12% Spandex joggers!