Syracuse AD: 24-Team College Football Playoff Is Like ‘Dangling a Carrot’

Syracuse athletic director Bryan Blair supports the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 24 teams, emphasizing the importance of access for teams at the end of the season. He believes a larger field incentivizes top teams to perform better at the end of the year. The NCAA FBS commissioners and university presidents are working on a 24-team model that could start in the 2027-28 season, following a recent handshake agreement with ESPN.

Despite Syracuse's current 3-5 overall record and absence from the CFP this year, Blair believes the program would have benefited from the expanded playoff in 2024, when they reached the Top 25 with a 10-3 record. The additional benefits of a 24-team playoff include bragging rights, prize money, and increased marketing and exposure.

Blair also highlighted the potential for a home playoff game at Syracuse's JMA Wireless Dome, which could be a transformative experience for central New York. He noted that the current CFP format is more desirable than bowl games, as the expanded playoff generates more buzz and energy, particularly on ESPN. Bowl Season executive director Nick Carparelli confirmed that the organization is working with conferences to determine how many opportunities teams will need beyond the CFP, and that the bowl season will adapt to meet this demand.