Georgia's Kirby Smart proposes expanding College Football Playoff to 30 teams

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart advocates for expanding the College Football Playoff beyond its current 12-team format, suggesting that a larger playoff pool would better satisfy fan demand and improve television ratings. Smart envisions a format similar to the NFL playoffs, with more teams creating compelling matchups over a longer period and increasing viewer engagement, despite some concerns about the regular season losing significance. He also supports the idea of cross-conference challenges, such as between the SEC and Big Ten, to better determine the strongest conference, although logistical issues remain. While the expanded playoff format has seen mixed results, with some early-round games being lopsided, Smart believes further expansion could bring financial benefits and enhance the sport's appeal. However, critics argue that increasing the number of playoff teams might dilute the importance of the regular season and allow teams with several losses to compete for the national championship, potentially harming the sport's competitive integrity. Overall, Smart's vision reflects a tension between commercial interests, fan engagement, and preserving the traditional competitive structure of college football.