College Football Playoff expansion talks are intensifying, with discussions centered on growing from 12 to 14 or 16 teams by 2026. The move would primarily benefit the Big Ten and SEC conferences.
CBS Sports reporter Dennis Dodd criticized the potential expansion in a recent column, arguing it threatens the sport’s credibility.
“A College Football Playoff with automatic qualifiers becomes a little less unscripted — and a little less credible, actually,” Dodd wrote. “Perhaps even the SEC and Big Ten athletic directors who gather this week to discuss the playoff are unaware of that basic truth.”
“The two conferences are in the middle of one of the biggest flexes in the game’s history, basically running away and hiding with playoff access.”
The Big Ten and SEC have dominated the playoff era. Ohio State’s victory over Notre Dame last month gave the Big Ten consecutive national championships, challenging the SEC’s historical stronghold.
Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua confirmed the Fighting Irish will remain independent, allowing them to maintain scheduling flexibility outside their traditional matchups with USC, Stanford, Army, and Navy.
The expanded playoff format aims to create more opportunities for programs to compete for national titles. However, teams will need to adapt to the current NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) landscape, which continues to reshape college football’s competitive balance.
The changes could fundamentally alter how teams qualify for championship contention. Programs outside the Big Ten and SEC may face increased challenges in securing playoff spots, even with more positions available.
This expansion marks the latest shift in college football’s evolving landscape, where conference influence and resource distribution continue to shape the sport’s future.
