As the calendar turns to the unofficial start of summer, things have already heated up in the world of the college gridiron. The point of contention is whether to expand the College Football Playoff (CFP) from its new 12-team format. While the future of the CFP may look like a debate about access and competition, it’s really a fight over money, control, and who gets to shape the valuable postseason asset.
Before the expansion to a twelve-team playoff in 2024, college football utilized a four-team playoff, which began after much deliberation in 2014. The playoff discussion matters because power in college football is highly concentrated. While the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) includes 138 teams across multiple conferences, the Big Ten (BIG) and the SEC are the kingpins, and now hold sole discretion over the future direction of college football playoffs.
The problem is the kingpins don’t agree on the playoff structure. If they don’t agree, expansion doesn’t happen. The expansion to a 12-team playoff generated excitement for the additional teams vying for a championship. It also acknowledged that a four-team playoff wasn’t enough.
American Football (1891), written by Walter Camp, a former Yale player widely regarded as the “Father of American Football”; Library of Congress
Why is expansion back on the table? Follow the Money!
The debate now is whether the CFP should be expanded to 24 teams as early as the 2027 season. This may feel like classic “more is better” thinking, but beneath the surface lies a complex financial chess match involving media rights, conference power, and the sport’s long-term economics. Sole media rights to the playoffs are currently controlled by ESPN, part of a $7.8 billion contract through the 2031-2032 season that covers the current twelve-team format.
At the core, the push for a 24-team playoff is about revenue growth and distribution. Proponents, led by the BIG, argue that doubling the playoff field creates more inventory: more games, more ticket sales, and (most importantly) more TV inventory to monetize. In a media landscape where live sports remain one of the few consistently premium assets, additional playoff games are an obvious value.
That additional inventory could also reshape the rights marketplace. There’s growing interest from broadcasters beyond ESPN. A larger playoff could attract interest from broadcasters besides ESPN, including competitors that would welcome the premium inventory. If multiple networks are bidding, then the overall CFP becomes more valuable.
Aided by terrific blocking, team captain Alice Shanks cuts through the line, leading the upper-class women to a 13-6 intramural win over the sophomore-freshman team at the Western State College Powder Bowl in Gunnison, Colorado, in 1939. That season, Spalding & Bros. published “American Football for Women: Official Rules,” and “powder puff” games associated with homecoming festivities grew in popularity. Women’s informal tackle football first appeared on a few college campuses in the 1890s, and various professional and semipro leagues have operated since 1965 to the present day; Library of Congress
But the upside is not automatic. The SEC has publicly slowed momentum for another expansion round, in part because a larger playoff could interfere with conference championship games, a prospect representing $200 million in Power Four (P4) revenue. A 24-team bracket could also require extending the season, creating operational strain. That creates a paradox: expansion is pursued for financial gain, but some versions could reduce existing revenue streams unless the new media deals are rich enough to offset the loss.
This is why the debate will ultimately rest on the power brokers deciding which outcome serves their best interests. Texas A&M coach Mike Elko isn’t afraid to talk about it. There is also the threat that Congress (the ultimate power broker) will act on this topic, as well as other matters related to college athletics. And through all this, how about the players… and the fans?
In short, this isn’t just a sports debate- it’s a billion-dollar capital allocation decision disguised as playoff reform.
What are your thoughts on the future of the College Football Playoff? Will expansion of the playoffs improve college football? What is your favorite team? Reach out by clicking here to send me an email! I’ve included below some of the earliest football footage ever recorded. Enjoy!
~ Brian Kasal- The Leadership Matrix
See below for some of the oldest football footage known to exist! This was a game between the University of Chicago Maroons visiting the Michigan Wolverines in 1904, filmed by Thomas A. Edison, Inc. and courtesy of the Library of Congress. UChicago was a founding member of the Big Ten in 1896, but dropped Big Ten football in 1939, and ultimately dropped out of the league in 1946. Enjoy!
P.S.- Did you see my last Leadership Matrix post? Click here to see it- Gas Prices, Geopolitics, and a Fracturing Oil Order
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