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

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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 :)
 

Lou Brown said:
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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Agree that 24 may be too much of a swing, but maybe conference playoff games for auto spots would be better.

It's all better than the auto SEC vs someone in the 2-4 team playoff we used to have. I'd say that having the regular season be such an elimination tool, led to less attendance and less revenue once you knew your team's season was basically over at 2-3 losses.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
It's all better than the auto SEC vs someone in the 2-4 team playoff we used to have.
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Certainly not for people like myself and @Lou Brown and others. This is like giving us the "new Coca Cola" even though we were some of the most rabid Coca Cola fans out there. This is just garbage if you ask me.

MaxyJR1 said:
I'd say that having the regular season be such an elimination tool, led to less attendance and less revenue once you knew your team's season was basically over at 2-3 losses.
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Well you'd be making it up. It was still wildly popular - did you ever watch any SEC games? Did you stop watching/going to Gopher games after our 3rd loss because our season was over?

Here's a hint - there was a lot more to college football than just the NC. Beating your rivals. Trying to get to a January game. Heck, I was stoked when Kill finally got us to one. And just watching the inevitable churning at the top as you got into November...that 2007 season, wondering who's actually gonna play for the thing.

So even though many teams were "eliminated" by mid-October, there were still plenty of reasons to care and watch.
 
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gopherbadgerman said:
Whatever we can do to make sure a minimum of 7 SEC teams get in every year lol :)
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The push will never stop until at least Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Florida, and Texas are guaranteed spots even if they go 6-6 and fire the coach

Because come on man, you saw the recruiting ranks...I know they lost some games but we all know they would win against all the other conferences...trust me...
 

MaxyJR1 said:
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.
Click to expand...
Oh goodie. 7/16 SEC teams.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
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.
Click to expand...
I love 16 if you fix the committee to a more objective selection criteria
 

4 teams from SEC, 4 teams from B1G, other 2 P4 Champs and each G6 Champs. That's 16. sorry Notre Dame should join a conference or you don't get in. Why wouldn't SEC and B1G hold out for that. realistically at 16 teams, the SEC and B1G probably have 8 of the top 16 anyway.
 

-5 teams from the SEC.
-3 from the B1G,
-2 from the ACC,
-2 from the Big 12
-all G6 champions,
-Notre Dame (every year)
-Winner of Army/ Navy game
-FCS Champion
- D2 Champion
- NFL team with the worst record on Dec. 1st
- D3 all-star team

I think that makes 24 teams!
Everyone is included!!!
 

Goldmember said:
-5 teams from the SEC.
-3 from the B1G,
-2 from the ACC,
-2 from the Big 12
-all G6 champions,
-Notre Dame (every year)
-Winner of Army/ Navy game
-FCS Champion
- D2 Champion
- NFL team with the worst record on Dec. 1st
- D3 all-star team

I think that makes 24 teams!
Everyone is included!!!
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I didn't know Paul Finebaum had a GH account.
 

I like 16 teams in the playoffs. That would still mean something to make it. Expanding to anymore than that it starts to feel a little too much and take away the honor of making the CFB playoffs. Eliminate the byes, don't add anymore to the length of the schedule. Expanding to 16 teams does this.
 

GopherTheJugular said:
Certainly not for people like myself and @Lou Brown and others. This is like giving us the "new Coca Cola" even though we were some of the most rabid Coca Cola fans out there. This is just garbage if you ask me.


Well you'd be making it up. It was still wildly popular - did you ever watch any SEC games? Did you stop watching/going to Gopher games after our 3rd loss because our season was over?

Here's a hint - there was a lot more to college football than just the NC. Beating your rivals. Trying to get to a January game. Heck, I was stoked when Kill finally got us to one. And just watching the inevitable churning at the top as you got into November...that 2007 season, wondering who's actually gonna play for the thing.

So even though many teams were "eliminated" by mid-October, there were still plenty of reasons to care and watch.
Click to expand...
I'm a super fan. I'm not normal.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
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.
Click to expand...
I'm with you. Don't like byes (feel like "play-in" games) either. Been vocal about just going to 16 in a bracket based on an agreed upon ranking system. If you are a G6 or independent, you get in if you are ranked in the top 16.
 


This year's playoff has been fun. I've previously been against an expanded playoff being of the belief that there's a big gap between the top 4 or 5 teams and everyone else. Maybe this year is the exception and not the rule, but if this year ends up becoming the norm (and I think it could with all the turmoil modern roster management contends with) then I think there is wider parity and more unpredictability and that's what makes the tournament fun. I'd be all for a 24 team tournament with autobids for all conferences provided that, 1. Notre Dame must join a conference, and 2. G6 conferences must be held to some standard of investment in football. Currently, a lot of G6 teams and even conferences (C-USA) have football budgets that are a lot closer to FCS than even the lowest spending P4 or even AAC teams. I'd hate to see a C-USA autobid bounce a real contender.

I'd also get rid of the bowl game tie ins. Home field for high seeds and a neutral site championship game. Maybe I'd go for a neutral site semi-final.
 

Goldmember said:
-5 teams from the SEC.
-3 from the B1G,
-2 from the ACC,
-2 from the Big 12
-all G6 champions,
-Notre Dame (every year)
-Winner of Army/ Navy game
-FCS Champion
- D2 Champion
- NFL team with the worst record on Dec. 1st
- D3 all-star team

I think that makes 24 teams!
Everyone is included!!!
Click to expand...
you forgot the auto-NDSU spot.
 

swede2 said:
This year's playoff has been fun. I've previously been against an expanded playoff being of the belief that there's a big gap between the top 4 or 5 teams and everyone else. Maybe this year is the exception and not the rule, but if this year ends up becoming the norm (and I think it could with all the turmoil modern roster management contends with) then I think there is wider parity and more unpredictability and that's what makes the tournament fun. I'd be all for a 24 team tournament with autobids for all conferences provided that, 1. Notre Dame must join a conference, and 2. G6 conferences must be held to some standard of investment in football. Currently, a lot of G6 teams and even conferences (C-USA) have football budgets that are a lot closer to FCS than even the lowest spending P4 or even AAC teams. I'd hate to see a C-USA autobid bounce a real contender.

I'd also get rid of the bowl game tie ins. Home field for high seeds and a neutral site championship game. Maybe I'd go for a neutral site semi-final.
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My thought is the first two rounds as home games for higher seed. Rotate the NYD Six yearly for the two semis, which allows the other four to be premium bowls in the years they are not used for semis.
 

It should get big enough to allow every SEC in. They proved they are the best conference by qualifying 5 teams for the CFP this year (never mind what those teams did once they got there).

I seriously continue to believe every FBS conference champion (even G6) should get an auto bid. I would think the SEC would agree with me, G6 teams and SEC vs SEC games were the only way they were able to win any CFP games.
 

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