All articles tagged with #cfp
A push to expand the college football playoff from 12 to 24 teams faces resistance from the SEC, with commissioner Greg Sankey signaling caution while acknowledging potential options. The debate centers on preserving regular-season value, exploring league-based structures or other formats, and balancing power and money among conferences as the sport moves toward a more professional model.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey says the league remains 'pretty committed' to its football championship game under current contracts, but expansion of the College Football Playoff—either to 16 or 24 teams—could force a rethink of the title game or lead to a new postseason concept that preserves revenue.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day says a 24-team College Football Playoff would be great for the sport and could engage more fan bases, but it might not be optimal for Ohio State; the format would have included the Buckeyes in most past seasons, while Oregon coach Dan Lanning sees broad benefits for the sport even if it doesn’t clearly help every program, and seeding complexity could affect strategies at the top.
An Athletic opinion piece argues that expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams would undermine the regular season and the sport’s soul, driven by self-preservation and TV-money rather than fan benefit. It outlines the players behind the push (Petitti, Phillips, Yormark, Bevacqua, Shanks), the influence of ESPN, and the likely financial and competitive costs, and urges fans to pressure university presidents to oppose the expansion in favor of a smaller format (12–16 teams).
As coaches push to expand the College Football Playoff from 12 toward 24 teams, ESPN reportedly wants to cap the field at 16, arguing larger fields undermine bowls and TV deals. The piece notes bigger fields would mean more bonuses for coaches who qualify and more games and wear-and-tear for players, possibly harming pro prospects. While expanding could reduce snubs, it risks including teams that don’t deserve a spot; regardless of the exact number, the trend is toward more teams, with 2, 4, or 12 (and more) under discussion.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian rails against the College Football Playoff selection committee, NCAA enforcement, and the broader governance of college football, arguing that money-fueled realignment, free player movement, and scheduling inequities are driving a systemic breakdown. He questions whether the committee can watch enough games, calls for more transparent criteria, and suggests rethinking the playoff format, warning that the sport risks NFL-like chaos unless reforms are made.
A group of college football coaches backs finishing the College Football Playoff earlier and has proposed concrete changes to make that happen, signaling broad support for reform as the sport looks to accelerate the championship timeline.
The College Football Playoff has announced the quarterfinal and semifinal dates and the bowl venues for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
The College Football Playoff Management Committee extended the current playoff format through the 2026-27 season, preserving the existing structure and operations while continuing to evaluate longer-term changes for the CFP.
Indiana finished 16-0 and beat Miami to win the CFP National Championship, drawing 30.1 million viewers on ESPN—the largest college football audience in over a decade and up 36% from last year under Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel; the article also notes Indiana’s postseason ratings highs and mentions the CFP’s TV-rights shift to ABC in a new six-year deal.
Indiana finishes No. 1 in The Athletic’s final 136 for the 2025 season, capping an improbable championship run as Miami climbs to No. 2 after four postseason games; the piece weighs bowls and opt-outs, notes preseason expectations, and highlights overachievers like Virginia, North Texas, Houston, New Mexico and San Diego State while calling Penn State and Clemson big underachievers. Oklahoma State sits as the lowest Power 4 team at No. 123 and UMass ends at No. 136; the rankings reflect the entire season with CFP results carrying extra weight.
Former Miami GA Mario Cristobal was nearly recruited into the Secret Service in 1998, but chose coaching football instead. Now he leads Miami to the College Football Playoff title game, a path shaped by that near-decision and family roots in law enforcement.
With a Jan. 23 deadline looming, CFP expansion talks remain deadlocked: the SEC backs a 16-team format while the Big Ten wants 24; if no signed agreement is reached, the 12-team playoff remains for 2026, and the 2027 expansion decision would be due by Dec. 1, 2026.
At the AFCA Convention, 25 anonymous coaches predicted the College Football Playoff national championship, with 22 choosing Indiana over the Miami Hurricanes. Indiana’s No. 1-ranked, veteran-heavy, well-resourced program under Curt Cignetti is highlighted after a dominant win over Oregon, while Miami counters with transfer portal additions like Carson Beck and a dynamic freshman in Malachi Toney. Coaches praised Indiana’s discipline and decision-making, though many acknowledged the evolving NIL/transfer landscape as a factor in who can win the title, making Indiana the near-unanimous pick among the group.
A numbers-driven preview of the Indiana–Miami national championship game: Indiana has 1 fumble lost to Miami’s 3, and the Hoosiers have posted strong first- and second-half scoring margins; Miami leads with 47 sacks to Indiana’s 45, and both teams sit among the national leaders in time of possession. Miami has defeated seven ranked opponents this season, while Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is climbing the program’s TD list and Malachi Toney nears 100 receptions. The winner likely finishes No. 1 in the final AP Top 25, adding historical context to the matchup.