ESPN: College football buzz: What we're hearing about playoff expansion

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BleedGopher

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Per ESPN:

There is strong support for a 16-team College Football Playoff format to begin as soon as 2026 if Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey can reach a specific compromise, multiple sources with knowledge of the discussions have told ESPN in the days leading up to one of the most significant meetings for the sport's postseason.

There's still a stalemate, though, between the two powerbrokers, meaning that even with a majority in favor of the change, the playoff could remain at 12 next season.

In November, the deadline for completing the format and related structural decisions moved from Dec. 1 to Jan. 23, 2026. CFP leaders -- including all 10 FBS commissioners, Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, and the 11 presidents and chancellors who comprise the organization's board of managers -- will meet Jan. 18 in Miami, the day before the national championship game, for their annual review of the season.

They are expected to discuss two models: a 16-team field that includes five conference champions and 11 at-large teams, and another format with 24 teams. Petitti and Sankey have the bulk of control over the playoff's format in 2026 and beyond, an agreement the other commissioners and Bevacqua signed off on in 2024 during the last contract negotiations with ESPN. If the Big Ten and SEC leaders can't come to an agreement by the deadline, the playoff will remain at 12 teams. The field will now guarantee the Power 4 conference champions spots, along with the highest-ranked conference champion from the Group of 6, which now includes the revamped Pac-12.

www.espn.com

CFB buzz: What we're hearing about playoff expansion, conference title games and bowls

Multiple playoff scenarios are on the table ahead of critical meetings this week.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

Go Gophers!!
 

So if they can't settle (SEC wants 5+11 and B1G wants 24 teams) it will stay at 12 with four P4 champs and an G6. Duke would have replaced JMU this year in that scenario and nothing else would have changed.

I like 24, but I don't like byes, so I'm more inclined to accept 16, but I'm not a fan of 11 at large teams.

This year 16 would have allowed Notre Dame, BYU, Texas and Vanderbilt in.
 


OH NO.

This thing is going to continue to grow and mutate as long as the schools think they can make more money. Eventually the college football playoff will own the schools.

We're all going to die.
 

I'd go for either if all the conference champs are in. I would hope that if they go to 24 that this is the case, essentially mimicking what FCS does. And anyone who watched the FCS playoffs this year, they were super fun.
 




matt said:
I like 16. It gets rid of the bye week issues for the top seeds, and I don’t think a 4 loss B1G or SEC team should be in contention for the CFP.
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I hate Iowa, but will contend they were a boarderline playoff team this year. Lost to ISU early when ISU was at full strength and Iowa was working with a new QB that missed summer workouts.

They gave Indiana and Oregon great games as well. USC loss was one they'd like back. They are an example of a team that is probably hurt in rankings due to past bias of their offense.

Going to 24 would have allowed them to be in the playoff and I lean to 24 due to team playing completely different at the end of the season as opposed to the start.

FCS Illinois State was 10-4 and (5-3) in MVFC. They won four road games in the playoffs and played for the title, losing in OT.
 





Bama isn't doing too well these days (now everyone can pay their players, so Bama lost that advantage), so we need to expand the number of teams that get invited to make sure they get a slot.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
I hate Iowa, but will contend they were a boarderline playoff team this year. Lost to ISU early when ISU was at full strength and Iowa was working with a new QB that missed summer workouts.

They gave Indiana and Oregon great games as well. USC loss was one they'd like back. They are an example of a team that is probably hurt in rankings due to past bias of their offense.

Going to 24 would have allowed them to be in the playoff and I lean to 24 due to team playing completely different at the end of the season as opposed to the start.

FCS Illinois State was 10-4 and (5-3) in MVFC. They won four road games in the playoffs and played for the title, losing in OT.
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Was just thinking exactly that. Iowa lacks high end skill position players but their o-line and d-line along with special teams would probably have allowed them to compete with anyone.
The SEC finally going to 9 conference games should help balance things a bit but the SEC bias in the rankings may take some time still to go away. ESPN influence is tiring as well.
 

matt said:
I like 16. It gets rid of the bye week issues for the top seeds, and I don’t think a 4 loss B1G or SEC team should be in contention for the CFP.
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Plus 16 teams does not change the number of weeks the playoff would take, which preserves the current season time frame and Bowl games.
 



MaxyJR1 said:
I hate Iowa, but will contend they were a boarderline playoff team this year. Lost to ISU early when ISU was at full strength and Iowa was working with a new QB that missed summer workouts.

They gave Indiana and Oregon great games as well. USC loss was one they'd like back. They are an example of a team that is probably hurt in rankings due to past bias of their offense.

Going to 24 would have allowed them to be in the playoff and I lean to 24 due to team playing completely different at the end of the season as opposed to the start.

FCS Illinois State was 10-4 and (5-3) in MVFC. They won four road games in the playoffs and played for the title, losing in OT.
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I get it - great points. I just dont like it. Its a NFL model - use the regular season to get to the tournement. What I love (or loved) about CFB is the whole year was a tournement. Every game had so much on the line. I think we are losing that feeling rapidly and that's what made CFB so special.

Im a AP / Coaches poll guy though. Loved it. Not fair, open for interpretation, style points matter - just like life :)
 

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