If you’re interested in the ongoing discussions about expanding the College Football Playoff, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti might have something for you. During their recent spring meetings in suburban Los Angeles, one of the main topics—besides efforts in Congress to “preserve” college athletics—was whether to add more teams to the playoffs.
Currently, the commissioners from the Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12, and Group of Five are basically sharing ideas on expansion.
Petitti is advocating for a 24-team playoff, while SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey is pretty set on maintaining the current 12-team setup or possibly adding just four more teams.
It might seem like a joke, but Petitti was serious when he stated that it would either be 24 teams or no change at all.
Based on the buzz online, it seems like college football fans generally prefer keeping the playoffs at 12 teams instead of seeing a much larger format.
However, with the rising costs of rosters and the financial needs of schools, it’s tough to ignore the revenue potential that comes from expansion. This financial aspect is becoming a significant point of contention among those seeking additional funds.
Recently, as the Big Ten has claimed three consecutive national titles in football and the University of Michigan took home the basketball championship, it feels like the Big Ten is shaping the current landscape of college athletics, at least through its success in championships.
Tony Petiti states Big Ten hasn’t explored a 16-team CFP format
Making changes isn’t as straightforward as gathering everyone for a consensus. For one, since the season wraps up in late January, the conference title weekend poses a scheduling challenge if there’s any expansion. Moreover, existing contracts for championship weekends, with ESPN and FOX paying around $160 million collectively to broadcast these events, complicate matters.
Petitti expressed doubt about the economic viability of such changes, pointing out the financial loss involved if they were to move away from a conference title game.
Sankey has emphasized that his conference is tied to these contracts, and getting rid of the SEC title game wouldn’t be realistic unless something else replaced it.
Vanderbilt’s head coach, Clark Lee, suggested incorporating the playoffs into a potential game schedule in Atlanta, which would qualify the winner for the postseason. He noted that some traditional elements of college football might need to change, possibly suggesting some form of conference championship instead.
Without the title game, the question remains: how will the conference generate revenue?
There appears to be a playoff model already in the works. Someone pointed out that otherwise, the season could drag on indefinitely. Yet, there’s a noticeable divide between the decision-making bodies.
During the Big Ten Conference meeting, Petitti made it clear that leaders aren’t actively considering the 16-team model right now. He mentioned that this is the initial year of the new contract and hinted that if there isn’t a mutual agreement on expanding to 24 teams, they would stick with the current format of 12.
It seems like most college football fans might agree with him, yet some commissioners from other conferences are less than pleased.
Shifting perspectives on CFP expansion
Big Ten COO Kelly Kenney has a different approach to influencing public opinion. He shared research indicating that since 2014, 80 different teams could have participated in a 24-team playoff. This data has been communicated to other conferences, contributing to some recent pushes from figures like ACC’s Jim Phillips and Big 12’s Brett Yormark.
It’s interesting to note that just a few months ago, those conferences were advocating for a 16-team structure. But when the financial benefits are factored in, it seems that quite a few would welcome the additional funding, even as several Big 12 teams recently rejected offers for private equity funding.
Indeed, opinions from coaches seem somewhat irrelevant in the race for playoff spots.
All eyes will be on SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey next week to see how discussions unfold. Petitti indicated that although they haven’t come to an agreement on extending the CFP format, collaboration between the two sides is improving.
With the December 1 deadline approaching for a decision, it doesn’t look like this disagreement will be resolved anytime soon.
As college football gears up for next week’s SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, Florida, it becomes clearer how both parties are adapting and negotiating.
The Big Ten has made its position clear regarding a playoff expansion: agree on 24 teams or maintain the 12-team format. They’ve had remarkable success in football lately, and it seems like the Big Ten is getting used to thriving at the top.
Meanwhile, the SEC is continuing its efforts to catch up in this new era of college athletics. For fans, this might feel like a relatively minor disagreement.
