The sport we love is changing fast — super-conferences, NIL, realignment, and a playoff that’s already bigger than it used to be. Now the Big Ten Conference has tossed a grenade into the conversation: what if the College Football Playoff eventually grew to 24 teams? On February 13th, @PeteThamel of ESPN revealed an “internal” (more on that below) Big Ten document about a 24 team playoff.
At first glance, that number sounds wild. But in today’s college football, maybe it isn’t.
Why the Big Ten is pushing this
The Big Ten’s idea isn’t really about chaos — it’s about access. With 18 teams now in the league and more national-caliber programs than ever, the conference believes too many worthy teams are being shut out by a small playoff field.
Under a 24-team format:
- More teams would still be playing for something meaningful in November
- Fewer seasons would feel “wasted” after one early loss
- Fans would get more playoff games on campuses — the best atmosphere in sports
In a world where Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, Penn State, USC, and Washington all exist in the same league, a four- or even 12-team playoff can feel outdated. Heck, after two straight seasons of being a College Football Playoff participant, Indiana deserves to be included in the discussion about the nation’s elite college football programs.
Why other leagues are hesitant
Here’s the problem: not everyone sees the sport the way the Big Ten does.
The SEC, ACC, and Big 12 are far more comfortable with 16 teams than 24. To them, 24 feels like:
- Too many games
- Too much risk of watering down the regular season
- Too big of a logistical and financial leap
They worry that if almost everyone gets in, then classic matchups — Alabama vs. Georgia, Ohio State vs. Michigan — lose some of their urgency.
The real fight isn’t 12 vs. 24 — it’s control
This debate isn’t just about numbers. It’s about who gets to shape the future of college football.
The Big Ten and the SEC now dominate TV revenue, brand power, and playoff résumés. A bigger playoff benefits the Big Ten especially, because its schedule is brutal and deep. A 24-team format protects teams that survive that grind with two or three losses — teams that would often be good enough to win it all.
Smaller leagues worry that a huge field would turn the playoff into a power-conference invitational.
So… will 24 teams ever happen?
Not soon — but don’t laugh it off. My skepticism about the “internal” nature of this plan is that Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti gave this information to Pete Thamel, knowing that it would create a small firestorm of conversation and discussion.
A 16-team playoff feels like the next step. But once that door opens, it’s hard to close it. Television networks, especially Fox, will want more games. Fans will want more chances. And conferences like the Big Ten will keep pointing out how many top-15 teams get left home every year.
24 teams might sound crazy today. Five years ago, so did 12.
And that’s why the Big Ten’s idea matters — even if it doesn’t win right now.
