A long-anticipated change in college football was officially announced recently: the College Football Playoff (CFP) will expand to include 24 teams, commencing with the 2027-2028 season. This announcement has largely been met with a singular question from supporters, commentators, and even some within the sport: why?
For many years, until 2023, the CFP consisted of just four teams. This select field was designed to ensure that only the elite few competed for the national title, typically limiting participation to undefeated or single-loss teams, with notable exceptions like an undefeated Florida State team once missing out.
The Playoff's Evolving Landscape
In 2024, the playoff expanded to a 12-team format. This change was generally well-received, offering more programs a chance to reshape their seasons and compete for a championship. The 2024-2025 Ohio State Buckeyes, for example, demonstrated this by recovering from a late-season loss to make a deep playoff run. The 12-team structure was widely seen as a positive compromise, balancing the tournament's exclusivity with the excitement of additional major postseason games hosted on campuses, while largely preserving the importance of bowl season and the regular season.
Remarkably, the 2026-2027 season will only be the third under the 12-team model before the move to an even larger 24-team field.
Anticipated Impacts of a 24-Team Field
This significant expansion is expected to have profound consequences for the sport. A 24-team playoff field is likely to diminish the relevance of traditional bowl games, as their rosters become diluted by the increased number of teams participating in the playoff. Major conference championship games may also become less critical.
The regular season, long celebrated as a defining characteristic of college football, is projected to lose substantial meaning. It is anticipated that teams with three, four, or potentially even five losses (particularly from conferences like the SEC) could still qualify for the 24-team playoff. While this might encourage more high-profile non-conference matchups, as teams would be less concerned about a single loss jeopardizing their playoff hopes, the overall significance of regular season outcomes could be severely undermined.
These developments inevitably lead back to the fundamental question: who championed this expansion? What was the underlying motivation?
Financial Drivers Behind the Expansion
The clear answer points to financial incentives. The Big Ten conference reportedly spearheaded the push for more playoff berths, with other conferences and groups eventually aligning. The SEC, initially resistant, ultimately acquiesced, with Commissioner Greg Sankey reportedly considering advocating for all 16 conference teams to make the playoff annually.
An increased number of playoff games translates directly into greater revenue from broadcast partners, such as ESPN. More teams will host late-season games with playoff implications, generating opportunities to sell high-priced home playoff tickets to their fan bases. For coaches, the threshold for a
