The 24-team CFP idea was hatched by Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti and his staff in late summer 2025 after expansion talks to grow the bracket beyond the current 12-team format had fallen apart months earlier.
Well, folks, hold onto your helmets because college football is about to get a whole lot more interesting! Starting next season, the College Football Playoff (CFP) will expand to a whopping 24 teams. Yes, you heard that right—24! That’s like inviting every guy you know to your Super Bowl party, just in case someone brings the nachos.
This monumental shift marks the end of an era—goodbye, traditional conference championship games that have been around for three decades. It’s like saying goodbye to your old flip phone; sure, it was nostalgic, but let’s be real, it was time to upgrade to something that actually works.
So, what brought on this wild expansion? Well, it turns out ESPN decided to rework its contract, which is fancy talk for, “We want to make more money and have more football!” They’re adding 11 new games over the next five years, which will cost them an extra $1.7 billion. I don’t know about you, but if I had $1.7 billion, I’d probably invest in a lifetime supply of pizza. But hey, ESPN has its priorities straight, and apparently, that involves a lot of college football.
Now, let’s talk turkey—what does this mean for the teams? With 24 teams in the mix, we’re looking at a playoff system that could potentially include everyone from the big-time Power Four conferences to the smaller schools that usually get overlooked. It’s like the NCAA version of a participation trophy. Everyone gets a shot at the title!
The expanded playoff is expected to generate enough revenue to make up for the value that used to be associated with those coveted conference title games. So, if you’re a fan of any team, even if they’re not in the top tier, rejoice! Your team has a better shot at glory—or, at the very least, a chance to get stomped by a powerhouse team on national television.
Now, let’s not forget the potential chaos that could ensue. Picture this: a 24-team playoff filled with upsets, Cinderella stories, and fans wearing bizarre costumes. It’s like March Madness but with more pads and less basketball. The possibilities are endless, and frankly, it’s hard not to get a little excited about the unpredictability of it all.
Sure, some purists might lament the loss of the traditional conference championship games, but in a world where everything is evolving, it’s time for college football to embrace change. After all, if we didn’t change things up every now and then, we’d probably still be watching games on black-and-white TVs.
So, as we gear up for this new era of college football, let’s raise a toast (or a soda) to the 24-team playoff. May the best team win, and may your nachos be plentiful! Here’s to more games, more drama, and a whole lot more fun. Buckle up, folks; it’s going to be a wild ride!
Inspired by: “College Football Playoff doubles up, expands to 24 teams beginning next season” (r/Local)