Big 12 and ACC Support 24-Team College Football Playoff Expansion

Recent reports indicate that the commissioners of the Big 12 and ACC are advocating for a 24-team expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP).

“We like 24 and we want 24,” stated Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. He expressed concerns that many teams would get left behind, emphasizing that a 24-team format offers genuine access. However, he mentioned the need to address the economic implications of such a change to avoid unintended issues.

Jim Phillips, the ACC commissioner, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Our aspiration as coaches and AD is 24.” He reflected on the difficulties faced when teams vying for a national championship are excluded from the playoffs. “We witnessed Florida State’s struggles when the field was just four. Other schools, like Notre Dame last year, also missed out despite being deserving of a playoff spot,” he remarked.

Despite the support from both conferences, the discussions about expanding the CFP have primarily involved the SEC and ESPN, who have favored the current 12-team format without plans to go beyond 16 teams to maintain their broadcasting control.

Interestingly, the Big Ten, alongside its broadcasting partner Fox Sports, is also on board with the push for a 24-team playoff. There seems to be a strong movement towards this expansion, influenced partly by dissatisfaction over last year’s playoff decisions and the financial incentives tied to a larger playoff field, including the support from Notre Dame.

Currently, almost all conferences, excluding the SEC and ESPN, are leaning toward the 24-team format. The American Football Coaches Association has recently voted in favor of this expansion as well.

However, any significant change hinges on SEC consent. They’re currently supportive of a shift to 16 teams but remain resistant to a 24-team format.

“That focus hasn’t changed,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey mentioned recently. He emphasized the importance of backing proposals with data rather than speculation, suggesting that their research will help determine the significance of games in an expanded playoff scenario.

For the advocates of a 24-team playoff to persuade the SEC, they will need to showcase that this format not only boosts revenue but also mitigates the approximately $80 million loss the SEC would face by eliminating the conference championship game—an integral part of the current system. I suppose it’s a tricky balance they have to strike.

ESPN’s stance also plays a crucial role. Phillips noted that the network is clearly aiming to stay at a 12-14 team structure and prefers not to go beyond 16. While the ACC is also tied to ESPN, they are optimistic for change after witnessing teams like Florida State and partially affiliated Notre Dame get excluded from the CFP in recent years.

“Teams that should have a real chance to win a national championship are being sidelined, indicating that the current format isn’t meeting its goal,” said Phillips. He highlighted the increasing investments made by schools and the systemic pressures that necessitate a reform to facilitate legitimate playoff participation.

According to On3, the 12-team playoff format is expected to persist for the next few seasons until an agreement is reached on future formats. There’s a deadline in December to finalize plans for the 2027 playoff structure. If the SEC and Big Ten can’t reach a consensus on either a 16 or 24-team model, the existing 12-team setup will remain in place come 2027.