Steve Says: One man’s modest proposal for an expanded College Football Playoff
247Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC conferences, along with FOX, are pushing to expand the College Football Playoff from 12 to as many as 24 teams, while the SEC and ESPN prefer to keep it at 12 teams.
- The current 12-team format was just introduced in 2024, following a decade-long four-team playoff system, with Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti advocating strongly for expansion.
- ESPN holds the playoff broadcast rights through 2031-32 for $1.3 billion annually, but expanding to 24 teams would add 12 more games, raising questions about potential revenue and the fate of lucrative conference championship games.
- The NFL’s TV contracts and scheduling dominate prime viewing slots in December and January, limiting the College Football Playoff to less favorable days and potentially affecting audience size and revenue.
- While expansion could increase revenue for colleges, concerns remain about the financial viability and scheduling challenges amid competition from NFL broadcasts and evolving media landscapes.