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Tony Petitti’s Big Ten Keeps Winning. Now His 24
Sports Illustrated • • general
Key Points:
- Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has become more publicly engaged at Big Ten football media days, conducting more interviews and interacting with media, reflecting his rising profile amid significant changes in college football.
- Petitti is advocating for expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams starting in 2027, an idea gaining traction among major conferences including the ACC, Big 12, and some SEC members, despite opposition from some quarters.
- He argues the 24-team playoff would enhance the regular season by keeping more teams in contention longer, creating multiple layers of motivation for teams to perform well throughout the season.
- Critics, including the article's author, caution that expanding the playoff could dilute the postseason's competitiveness and reward mediocrity, but Petitti and others see it as a way to justify increased investments in football programs.
- The proposal is moving toward possible presentation and voting later this year, with Petitti positioned to potentially secure a major victory that would further solidify the Big Ten's influence in college football.
