College football is on the brink of a seismic shift, and I’m not just talking about the usual offseason drama. The proposal to expand the College Football Playoff (CFP) to a staggering 24 teams has sparked a debate that goes far beyond the field. Personally, I think this is a pivotal moment—one that could redefine the sport’s identity. What makes this particularly fascinating is how it mirrors the absurdity of the 2021 satire Don’t Look Up, where a comet threatens Earth, but greed and short-sightedness prevent action. In this case, the 'comet' is a bloated playoff system, and the greed? Well, it’s all too real.
The Regular Season: A Casualty of Expansion?
One thing that immediately stands out is the potential devaluation of the regular season. College football’s magic lies in its high-stakes Saturdays, where every game matters. An 8-4 team making the playoff? That’s not just a stretch—it’s a slap in the face to the sport’s ethos. If you take a step back and think about it, this isn’t just about numbers; it’s about integrity. The regular season is the heartbeat of college football, and diluting its importance could alienate fans who cherish its unpredictability and drama.
What many people don’t realize is that this isn’t just a logistical change—it’s a philosophical one. The current system rewards excellence, not mediocrity. Expanding to 24 teams would essentially say, ‘Close enough is good enough.’ In my opinion, that’s a dangerous precedent. It’s like letting a C-student into an Ivy League school because they showed up to class.
The Power Players: Whose Interests Are They Serving?
The driving forces behind this proposal—Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, and others—are framing this as a win for the sport. But let’s be honest: it’s a win for their wallets. From my perspective, this is a classic case of self-preservation masquerading as innovation. These power brokers are responding to crises of their own making—overly bloated conferences, unsustainable spending, and a failure to address player compensation. Instead of fixing the root issues, they’re throwing more teams into the playoff and hoping no one notices the cracks.
A detail that I find especially interesting is Petitti’s background in Major League Baseball, where mediocrity is rewarded with playoff berths. It’s no coincidence that he’s pushing for a system that mirrors baseball’s flaws. What this really suggests is that college football is being reshaped by executives who don’t understand—or worse, don’t care about—its unique culture.
The Fans vs. The Suits: A Battle for the Soul of the Sport
Here’s the kicker: 90% of college football fans oppose this expansion. Yet, their voices are being drowned out by the suits in the boardrooms. This raises a deeper question: Who is college football for? Is it for the fans who pack stadiums and fuel the passion, or is it for the executives and networks looking to maximize profits?
What this really suggests is a disconnect between the people who love the sport and those who run it. The fans understand that college football’s charm lies in its exclusivity—the idea that every game counts, and only the best get a shot at the title. Expanding the playoff to 24 teams would turn that on its head, creating a system where mediocrity is not just tolerated but celebrated.
The Broader Implications: A Slippery Slope
If this expansion goes through, it’s not just the CFP that’s at stake. The entire ecosystem of college football could be upended. Conferences might lose their championship games, reducing the stakes of late-season matchups. Coaches might rest starters in meaningless games, further diluting the product. And let’s not forget the financial implications—networks like ESPN, which have a vested interest in keeping the playoff small, could see their dominance challenged by Fox and others.
In my opinion, this is a slippery slope. Once you start down the path of prioritizing profit over tradition, it’s hard to turn back. College football risks losing what makes it special—its unpredictability, its intensity, its soul.
A Call to Action: It’s Not Too Late
So, who’s going to stop this comet? Right now, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey seems to be the last line of defense, advocating for a more modest expansion to 16 teams. But even he’s facing pressure from within his own conference. The real power lies with the school presidents, who must sign off on any changes.
If you’re one of the 90% who think this is madness, now is the time to act. Email your school’s president. Voice your concerns. Let them know that college football’s soul is worth fighting for. Because if we don’t, we might wake up one day to find that the sport we love has been reduced to a shadow of its former self.
In the end, this isn’t just about a playoff system—it’s about what college football stands for. And personally, I’m not ready to let it go without a fight.
