We had a major news break Thursday, October 15.
Per Pete Thamel, “The College Football Playoff is nearing a deal to expand to 24 teams.”
A playoff system that has seen exponential growth over the past couple of decades could be on the verge of its biggest change yet. While the proposal still needs final approval, the potential expansion could have a major impact on the future of college football and, more importantly, Michigan State.
The Evolution of the College Football Playoff
For years, college football had just two teams meeting for the national championship. Every game in the regular season was viewed under a microscope, with the rankings determining which two teams would compete for the title.
Then came 2014, when college football adapted a four-team playoff. This format was the only one in which Michigan State made the playoffs, although the Spartans were shut out by Alabama, and it was not pretty.
Still, the format was held in high regard. It was a much-needed change that took too long to happen, but it finally gave the top four teams an opportunity to prove themselves.
There are more than 130 FBS programs, however, and four playoff spots still left plenty of teams on the outside looking in.
College football knew it was missing out on money by only allowing four teams into the playoffs, but player safety was also a concern. College athletes weren't earning money through NIL at the time, and playing additional games meant more risk of injury before potentially going pro.
But money talks, and in 2024, the College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams.
The evolution to 12 teams gave fans the parity they had been desperate for. In the first year, No. 8 Ohio State steamrolled No. 1 Oregon and No. 5 Texas en route to the championship game. There, the Buckeyes faced No. 7 Notre Dame, which had beaten No. 2 Georgia to earn its trip to the title game.
Ohio State ultimately won it all. Although the school had been there plenty of times before, seeing the No. 8 team at the end of the regular season win the national championship raised an interesting question: What had college football fans been missing out on all those years when only two or four teams competed for the title?
Last season, Indiana was the No. 1 team for nearly the entire season and cruised through the playoffs. It was the Hoosiers' first football national championship, capping off a wild ride.
Indiana's success was not necessarily proof that playoff expansion alone creates parity, as the transfer portal has also played a major role in reshaping the sport. Still, its championship run showed what can happen when more teams have a legitimate opportunity to compete for a national title.
Indiana's opponent in the championship game was No. 10 Miami (FL.), which set a record for the lowest-seeded team to reach the national championship under the expanded format.
Why a 24-Team Playoff Makes Sense
Now, college football could be preparing to double the current 12-team format to 24 teams, potentially beginning in 2027. The proposed format is expected to include 19 at-large bids, the four Power Four conference champions and the highest-ranked Group of Six team. Final approval is still pending. <Link url="https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-expand-24-teams-2027/" title="CBS Sports reported on the proposed format and timeline." />
A format this large will undoubtedly be met with the same disdain as serving month-old milk at a holiday dinner. But I'll be the first to say I'm not mad at it.
I like college football playoff games.
More teams would have a chance to compete for a national championship, and more meaningful postseason games would give fans additional reasons to tune in. There will always be arguments about whether too many teams are getting an opportunity, but expanding the field would give more programs a chance to prove themselves on the biggest stage.
There is, however, a significant trade-off.
The proposed expansion would eliminate Power Four conference championship games. That is a sad resolution to the scheduling challenge, but potentially a necessary one to make room for additional playoff games.
The rivalry aspect of conference title games will be missed. Those matchups have been a part of college football for a long time, and losing them would be difficult. However, with the sport constantly evolving, I've become somewhat numb to seeing traditions change. Instead, it's easier to get excited about what the future could bring.
This also raises questions about the weekly rankings. Should college football keep its top 25, or move to a top 24 ranking to match the playoff field? Perhaps a top 30 would make more sense, giving fans a broader picture of the teams in contention.
Either way, the rankings and the selection process would need to adapt to a larger playoff.
How Expansion Could Help Michigan State
All of this could benefit the Michigan State Spartans.
The program has been in disarray and needs all the help it can get as it rebuilds. Under head coach Pat Fitzgerald, Michigan State will need to find a way to compete in the Big Ten and eventually return to national relevance.
Expanding the playoff to 24 teams would give the Spartans more room to work their way into the postseason over the next few years.
Instead of needing to finish among the top 12 teams in the country, Michigan State could have a larger field to pursue, depending on how the final selection criteria are structured. A strong season could become a playoff opportunity even if the Spartans aren't quite ready to compete with the nation's elite programs over an entire season.
Of course, expansion alone won't fix Michigan State's problems. The Spartans still need to recruit, develop players, stay healthy and win games against quality opponents. A bigger playoff field doesn't guarantee a spot for a rebuilding program.
But it does create more opportunity.
With the College Football Playoff potentially expanding to 24 teams as soon as 2027, that opportunity could be coming sooner rather than later. For a Michigan State program looking to climb back into the national conversation, that is certainly something to be excited about.