Big Ten Proposes 24-28 Team College Football Playoff Expansion

The College Football Playoff (CFP) is under consideration for a significant expansion, with the Big Ten exploring models featuring 24 to 28 teams. Proposed formats include a distribution of automatic bids heavily favoring the Big Ten and SEC, with up to seven automatic qualifiers each, while the ACC and Big 12 would receive five each, and additional spots allocated to Group of 6 conferences and at-large selections. This expansion could eliminate conference championship games, allowing the playoff to begin earlier in December, with initial rounds hosted on campuses and later rounds played in traditional bowl settings. The Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti is actively advocating for these expanded models, though the concept is in early stages and may evolve or be rejected. Other conferences such as the ACC and Big 12 lean toward a 16-team format that balances automatic qualifiers and at-large bids differently, reflecting ongoing negotiations. Ultimately, the decision on the playoff’s future format is expected by the end of the year and will hinge on both financial and power dynamics among the Power Five conferences.