How a 24-team playoff could change college football

A proposal to expand the College Football Playoff to include 24 teams has been suggested, potentially altering the college football format significantly. The Big Ten initially proposed the idea, which now includes eliminating conference championship games and awarding both at-large and Group of Six bids. Under this proposal, 20 playoff games would be played on campus, with the higher-seeded team hosting the first-round matchups.

Seeds 1-8 would receive a bye, while seeds 9-24 would compete in the first round. The proposal aims to start the playoffs on the weekend that currently showcases conference championship games. However, critics argue that this expansion could diminish the importance of conference championships and reduce the overall competitiveness of the regular season.

With more teams participating, teams from non-Power Five conferences might find themselves playing purely as bowl games, and teams that fall short of the criteria might decline invitations to play. The proposal could potentially benefit Power Five schools while potentially slamming the door on most Group of Six programs. Despite the proposal, as of now, specifics about the expansion have not been disclosed. The College Football Playoff is scheduled to expand in 2027.