Change coming before title game? ESPN 'aware' of flood of complaints over game graphic

When the College Football Playoff semifinals began, ESPN unveiled a series of new graphics for the games between Ohio State and Clemson, and Alabama and Notre Dame.

Below is a video ESPN released to preview the changes. But what drew fans ire was the score bug at the bottom of the screen, which to some became too confusing because the down and distance marker being gold was too close to a penalty graphic, typically yellow.

Sporting News asked whether the network would consider a change for the national championship game on Jan. 11, an ESPN spokesperson said it was “aware of the fan feedback.” The spokesperson added the production team will likely look at the issue in advance of the title game between Alabama and Ohio State.

For comparison, here are the two graphics with and without a penalty:

ESPN’s Creative Services team does it again, kicking off a new graphics package for the #CFBPlayoff Semifinals #MegaCast on #NewYearsDay

4p ET | @rosebowlgame
🏈 @AlabamaFTBL vs @NDFootball

8p ET | @SugarBowlNola
🏈 @ClemsonFB vs @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/KfO533p0p6

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) December 31, 2020

So @espn you have to fix that down and distance box. Make it green or something. I think there is a penalty every play

— Derek Tyson (@DerekJTyson) January 2, 2021

We need to ditch this Gold down and distance graphic. I think there’s a penalty on every play.

— Jeffrey Wright (@JWright929espn) January 1, 2021

Not a fam of the ESPN down graphic. Think there is a penalty out of the corner of my eye on every play.

— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) January 1, 2021