Big Ten and Tony Petitti Turn Up Pressure on SEC in 24
Sports Illustrated • • sports
Key Points:
- Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti is advocating for a 24-team College Football Playoff (CFP) expansion, arguing it will increase the importance of regular-season games and allow more programs to compete meaningfully.
- Petitti and Big Ten officials believe expanding the playoff will enhance scheduling opportunities, create more high-profile matchups, and provide greater access for teams outside traditional powerhouses like Ohio State and Alabama.
- The proposed 24-team format would eliminate conference championship games but generate substantial revenue through home playoff games and TV deals, whereas a 16-team expansion is viewed as less economically viable.
- The Big Ten's push for expansion contrasts with the SEC's opposition, setting up a potential impasse between commissioners Tony Petitti and Greg Sankey, who are the key decision-makers for the playoff's future format.
- Critics worry that expanding the playoff could devalue the regular season, but Petitti and others argue that the current 12-team format is too restrictive and that a larger field would keep more teams competitive deeper into the season.