Why Expanding to a 24 Team College Football Playoff is a Mistake
The College Football Playoff (CFP) system just keeps shifting. Lately, College Football Commissioners have been butting heads over whether to jump from a 12-team format to a whopping 24 teams.
The Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12 are all for it. Meanwhile, the SEC is digging in its heels. There’s a lot to unpack here—TV deals, the regular season’s future, and what might happen to Conference Championship games.
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The Role of Television Partners in the Expansion Debate
TV networks are right in the thick of these expansion talks. ESPN, which broadcasts SEC games, seems pretty happy with the 12-team setup since it has exclusive CFP rights.
But then there’s Fox, the Big Ten’s main TV partner, which doesn’t currently air any CFP games. If the playoff field jumps to 24 teams, Fox could finally get a slice of that pie. And, honestly, that tug-of-war between ESPN and Fox is shaping a lot of this conversation.
Impact on Broadcasting Rights
If the CFP goes to 24 teams, Fox might swoop in and bid for games, breaking ESPN’s hold. That could mean fatter deals for conferences, sure, but it also makes you wonder—will broadcasts get better or just more complicated?
Historical Context: Previous Playoff Systems
Looking back, the BCS system ran for 16 seasons, from 1998 to 2013. Then came the 4-team College Football Playoff, which stuck around for a decade. That’s 26 seasons of two systems before the current 12-team format, which is barely two years old.
Jumping to 24 teams already? It feels a little hasty, doesn’t it? Maybe even disruptive.
Concerns About the Regular Season
People are worried that a 24-team playoff could water down the regular season. College football’s regular season is famous for being wild—every single game can make or break a team’s shot at the playoffs.
Impact on Team Records
Right now, teams with 10-2 or 9-3 records have a legit shot. Expand to 24, and suddenly 8-4 or even 7-5 squads are getting in. The stakes drop, and the regular season loses some of its edge. That’s always been a big part of why fans care so much.
The Fate of Conference Championship Games
There’s also the question of Conference Championship games. If the CFP expands, those games might disappear. And that would be a shame.
They’re massive events. The SEC Championship pulled in 16 million viewers last year, and the Big Ten’s hit 18 million. Those numbers are hard to ignore.
Viewer Engagement
Swapping out high-stakes championship games for early-round playoff matchups between middling teams? That could turn off a lot of fans. The energy and hype around Conference Championships is tough to beat, and losing that would sting.
Conclusion: A Call for Patience
Expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams sounds exciting at first. But honestly, there are a lot of issues lurking beneath the surface.
Television networks have their own interests, and you can’t ignore how more teams could water down the regular season. There’s also the real risk of Conference Championship games fading away, which would be a shame for fans who love those matchups.
If you’re curious about the nitty-gritty details, check out the full article on why the 24-team College Football Playoff will only hurt the sport.
The 12-team format is still new, and honestly, it’s working pretty well so far. Maybe it’s best to let it run for a few more years before rushing into something bigger.
Letting fans, alumni, and everyone else adjust gives us time to really see what works—and what doesn’t. Who knows, maybe the current system will end up being just right after all.
