Big 12 Coaches Support 24-Team Playoff, Eye 10th Conference Game

The landscape of college football might be about to change in a big way. Big 12 coaches just threw their support behind a 24-team College Football Playoff (CFP) field.

This endorsement could shake up the postseason and make those late-season games even more intense. The decision followed a detailed presentation by the CFP staff at the Big 12’s annual spring meetings in Frisco, Texas.

Coaches dug into the potential benefits and ripple effects of a bigger playoff system. There was a lot to take in, honestly.

The Case for a 24-Team College Football Playoff

During those meetings, Big 12 coaches saw a model of what a 24-team CFP would look like. The numbers were eye-opening: the Big 12 could have landed five teams in the field.

Compare that to the current 12-team setup, where only one Big 12 squad—No. 4 Texas Tech—made it. That stings a little.

Since 2014, 15 out of 16 Big 12 teams would have made a 24-team playoff. Kansas, sorry, you’d still be out.

The average Big 12 team would see three playoff appearances. Oklahoma State would get six, Utah even more at eight.

This kind of inclusion could really crank up the drama and give more teams a shot at national recognition. Who doesn’t want more chaos in December?

Support Across the Board

The 24-team playoff idea isn’t just a Big 12 thing. The American Football Coaches Association recently recommended it, too.

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti are both pushing for the change. But SEC commissioner Greg Sankey? He’s holding out for a 16-team field instead.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark pointed out that the expanded format could open the door for a 10th conference game. That extra matchup could help more schools get in, offer more TV content, and bring in extra revenue.

Potential Challenges and Criticisms

Still, not everyone’s on board. One big worry: the Big 12 championship game could be on the chopping block, and that’s a major asset for the league.

Some SEC coaches have taken aim at the CFP Committee, saying they don’t weigh strength of schedule enough. They argue teams like Texas Tech and BYU should’ve taken bigger hits for softer slates.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian even jabbed at Texas Tech, claiming his team could run their schedule with backups. In response, Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire offered to buy out Texas’s opener and host them in Lubbock. Spicy, right?

SEC’s Dominance in the Current System

The SEC has definitely made its presence felt in the current 12-team CFP format. Of the seven at-large spots, the SEC grabbed four.

The rest went to No. 2 Ohio State, No. 5 Oregon, and No. 10 Miami. But here’s the twist—only one of those seven SEC teams reached the national semifinals. That’s just how tough it gets in the postseason.

BYU finished No. 12 in the final CFP ranking last season and was the second team out at 11-2. Texas was right behind at 9-3, and Vanderbilt followed at 10-2 (but lost the head-to-head).

BYU coach Kalani Sitake brushed off the SEC’s criticism, saying bubble teams just need to win more games. Can’t really argue with that logic, can you?

Conclusion: The Future of College Football

The idea of expanding to a 24-team College Football Playoff could change the landscape of the sport. More teams would get a shot, and let’s be honest, fans love the drama.

Sure, there are hurdles and plenty of folks raising their eyebrows, but the buzz from Big 12 coaches and other conferences is hard to ignore. Maybe this is where things are headed, or maybe not—hard to say for sure.

If you want to dig deeper, check out the full story over on CBS Sports at this link.