Steve Sarkisian Challenges College Football Playoff Expansion to 24 Teams

In a recent interview with USA Today, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t hold back about the idea of expanding the College Football Playoff (CFP) to 24 teams. He touched on hot topics like Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, unrestricted player movement, and, of course, the NCAA’s ongoing enforcement problems.

But Sarkisian’s real focus was on the messiness of the current CFP selection process. The way college football keeps shifting, his comments make you wonder about where the sport—and its postseason—are headed.

Steve Sarkisian’s Critique of the Current CFP Selection Process

Sarkisian thinks the selection process for the College Football Playoff is already tough on the committee. The 13-person panel—athletic directors, ex-coaches, and former players—has to weigh wins, losses, strength of schedule, conference titles, and head-to-head results.

Even with access to all the game broadcasts and film, Sarkisian says the system just isn’t clear or transparent. He finds it confusing, and honestly, who wouldn’t?

Bandwidth Issues for the Selection Committee

Sarkisian pointed out that committee members just can’t watch enough games to make fully informed calls. With 12 teams in the playoff now, they’re already stretched, having to keep tabs on at least 30 teams that could shake up the playoff picture.

If the field grows to 24, that’s 40 or even 50 teams to monitor every week. At that point, the committee would have to lean even more on media and coaches’ polls, which feels like a recipe for more chaos.

Transparency and Clarity Concerns

One of Sarkisian’s biggest complaints is the lack of transparency in the selection process. He thinks the committee’s criteria aren’t spelled out, which leads to head-scratching decisions and controversy.

*Everyone talks about NIL, but my biggest gripe is the selection committee,* Sarkisian said. *There’s no transparency on what exactly the committee is doing. We have to figure that out.*

Structural Changes and Their Impact on Playoff Evaluation

College football’s landscape is shifting in ways that could make playoff evaluations even messier. The SEC just switched to a nine-game conference schedule, joining other power leagues.

That means more high-level matchups, more strength-of-schedule debates, and probably more contenders with an extra loss or two. Makes you wonder how anyone keeps it straight.

Scheduling Inequity

Sarkisian brought up scheduling inequity, using Texas as an example. Last year, Texas missed out on the 12-team field despite a 9-3 record and several wins over ranked teams.

Meanwhile, Miami grabbed the last at-large bid with a less impressive résumé but proved themselves in the postseason. Sarkisian questioned how records would look if teams swapped schedules—it’s a fair point, honestly.

Conference Championship Games and Postseason Calendar

The American Football Coaches Association recently voted to recommend ditching conference championship games and shaking up the postseason calendar. The Big Ten seems to like a 24-team model with multiple automatic qualifiers.

But the SEC? They’ve leaned toward a 16-team setup, with five automatic bids for the highest-ranked conference champs and 11 at-large spots. It’s a tug-of-war, and nobody seems totally satisfied.

The Debate Over CFP Expansion

Some folks say expanding the CFP would keep fans hooked deeper into the season and add value for TV partners. But critics like Sarkisian argue it could water down the regular season and jam an already overloaded calendar.

And let’s not forget the extra headaches from transfer portal drama, coaching changes, and competing with the NFL playoffs. It’s a lot to juggle.

Unintended Consequences

Sarkisian doesn’t think just adding more teams will fix the real problems. *I’d go back to a four-team playoff, and have your own conference playoff to get the four teams if you want more inventory for your television partners,* he told USA Today Sports.

*We have to think outside the box. Just adding teams and going to 24, that’s a very spastic view, thinking that’s going to solve the problem. Forever in college athletics, we don’t think about the unintended consequences of decisions we make. It’s all knee-jerk reactions. Look where it has gotten us.*

Current Status and Future Implications

Right now, the CFP sticks with 12 teams. Still, there’s this growing buzz about making the bracket even bigger.

Word is, ACC coaches and athletic directors might soon throw their support behind a 24-team model. That could shake things up, but it also raises a bunch of new questions.

Sarkisian’s criticism really hits a nerve. If college football can’t even explain how it picks teams now, will a bigger playoff just add fuel to the fire?

Want to dig deeper into Sarkisian’s concerns and the possible playoff expansion? Check out the full article on CBS Sports.