College Football Playoff and NFL Team Up for Coral Restoration Efforts in Miami

Collaborative Coral Restoration Efforts

The College Football Playoff (CFP) partnered with the NFL and the University of Miami during the National Championship weekend to significantly enhance environmental efforts through coral restoration in South Florida. This initiative, titled ‘100 Yards of Hope,’ is an extension of the NFL Green program designed to perpetuate eco-friendly commitments in cities hosting major sporting events.

The urgency of this project is underscored by the need to address the severe coral bleaching that occurred in 2023—the worst on record—at the site that was previously restored during Super Bowl LIV in 2020. Scientists from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science participated in reconnaissance dives to evaluate the condition and recovery of the corals.

Ryan Allen Hall, the senior director of public events and sponsorships for CFP, expressed pride in supporting an initiative that instills a lasting legacy within the Miami community. This project not only brings local volunteers together but also relays a meaningful story of environmental responsibility linked to the championship game.

The core focus of this year’s engagement, dubbed the “Year of the Ocean,” highlighted the crucial aspects of ocean health, coastal resilience, and marine conservation during the 2026 Championship. Alongside the coral restoration, Playoff Green committed to a major cleanup initiative in collaboration with 4Ocean, where volunteers successfully removed an impressive 5,000 pounds of debris from the ocean.

NFL Senior VP of Social Responsibility, Anna Isaacson, emphasized that the ecological impact of their major events extends well beyond sport. By revitalizing the coral system at the 100 Yards of Hope project, they showcased a compelling narrative of how sports can facilitate significant environmental transformation.

In a hands-on approach, researchers from the Coral Restoration Lab conducted a thorough re-assessment of the coral’s survival rates and underlying reef structures. Their findings were integral to the hands-on ‘Rescue a Reef’ expedition, which involved replanting corals to boost the overall health and resilience of the reef ecosystem.

Dalton Hesley, a Senior Research Associate, highlighted the importance of Florida’s Coral Reef as a national treasure. The collaborative effort with CFP’s Playoff Green aims to leverage awareness and spur action towards coral protection and conservation efforts.

In this undertaking, volunteers, including members of the Green Sports Alliance, acted as citizen scientists, collaborating with researchers to demonstrate how large sporting events can serve as a springboard for science-centric environmental solutions that go beyond the playing field. This initiative shines a light on the progressive strides being made in promoting ecological sustainability, which gets amplified when combined with community engagement via sports.

Overall, this partnership marks a significant step not only in aiding the revival of coral ecosystems in South Florida but also in nurturing a growing culture of environmental consciousness within the sporting community and its fans.