Tennessee’s Josh Heupel Supports Expanding College Football Playoff to 24 Teams

College football might be on the edge of something big—a possible expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP) to 24 teams. This idea, which started with some heavy hitters from the Big Ten, is picking up steam with coaches like Tennessee’s Josh Heupel and Georgia’s Kirby Smart jumping on board.

Heupel, in a recent interview, made it clear he likes the idea of more teams in the playoff. He talked about how college football keeps changing and how the playoff system should probably change with it.

The power players in the sport are still hashing things out. There’s a lot of chatter about what shape the CFP should take, and everyone seems to have a different vision.

The Case for a 24-Team College Football Playoff

Josh Heupel, Tennessee’s head coach, is now one of the louder voices backing a 24-team CFP. He talked to On3’s Chris Low and said the sport is always shifting, so the playoff should, too.

Heupel’s got some personal experience here—his Volunteers made it to the 12-team playoff in 2024, though they didn’t get far against Ohio State. Still, that taste of the postseason seems to have shaped his thinking.

Heupel’s Perspective on Expansion

For Heupel, a 24-team playoff just feels more fair and exciting. He figures that with so much change in college football, a bigger playoff makes sense.

He put it pretty simply: “The way college football is constantly changing, that probably makes the most sense.”

Georgia’s Kirby Smart Weighs In

Kirby Smart from Georgia is also speaking up in favor of a larger playoff. He’s got two national titles since the playoff era began, so his opinion carries some weight.

At the Steve Spurrier Awards show, Smart talked about how a 24-team playoff could amp up fan excitement and change the way programs think about the postseason.

Fan Engagement and Expectations

He thinks more teams would mean more hype for fans. “I think 24 teams is good for the fan bases,” Smart said.

He also mentioned that, these days, fans expect their teams to make the playoffs. It’s kind of become a “playoffs or bust” deal for a lot of schools.

Current Playoff Structure and Future Discussions

Right now, the 12-team CFP is locked in through at least the 2026-27 season. But with all the behind-the-scenes talks, it feels like change is coming.

The Big Ten is pushing hardest for 24 teams, but the SEC seems to prefer a 16-team setup with a “5+11” breakdown—five top conference champs get in automatically, and the other 11 spots go to at-large teams.

Competing Proposals and Power Dynamics

This whole debate really shines a light on the tug-of-war in college football. The Big Ten wants more teams in for more chances, while the SEC is leaning toward a smaller, more exclusive playoff.

Both sides are trying to balance fairness, opportunity, and keeping the competition fierce. It’s not a simple call.

Implications for the Future of College Football

Expanding the CFP could mean more money, more fans getting invested, and more teams with a shot at the big time.

But, let’s be honest, it might also make things messy—logistics, longer seasons, maybe even some unintended consequences for the regular schedule. It’s a lot to weigh.

Revenue and Fan Engagement

An expanded playoff could pull in a lot more revenue. More games mean bigger media rights, extra sponsorships, and, of course, more ticket sales.

With a larger field, fans from more schools would get invested. Suddenly, a wider range of programs and their supporters would have something real to root for deep into the postseason.

Honestly, the whole college football scene might feel livelier—maybe even a bit unpredictable. If you want to dig into the ongoing debates and hear different takes on playoff expansion, check out the original article on CBS Sports.