The College Football Playoff is only in its third year of existence, but get ready for a radical change. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that the College Football Playoff brass are set to agree on expanding the tournament to 24 teams, starting in 2027. It’s a move most fans absolutely didn’t want, preferring to keep the tournament at a lean 12 teams, and the frustration is already boiling over across the country, with many concerned that what makes college football so special is slowly being taken away.
Say Goodbye to Saturdays That Matter
One of the biggest knocks against this massive expansion is how it’ll completely gut the regular season. ESPN’s Kevin Clark didn’t hold back, arguing that devaluing the regular season cuts into what makes college football so great in the first place. He said the people running these conferences don’t get that “the regular season *is* the sport and rivalries are more important than the tv markets.” Clark believes the playoffs should be an addition, not a replacement for that intensity.
Other fans and analysts are echoing that sentiment big time. Kevin Gray Jr. called it “gross,” saying, “no one wants a 24-team College Football Playoff, this further dilutes the playoff and renders the regular season virtually meaningless.” Ouch. That’s a strong take, but honestly, it’s hard to argue with when you think about what we’re losing.
The “NFL-ization” of College Ball Is Complete
This isn’t just about devaluing games, it’s about fundamentally changing the sport. Brandon Kiley nailed it when he said the “NFL-ization of college football is (more or less) complete. The regular season is neutered & the playoff drives all the conversation.” He’s right. We might still enjoy the playoff games and Saturdays, but it’s a “very different sport than what we grew up with.”
And get this, the expansion could actually incentivize teams to sit players at the end of the regular season for the first time ever! Connor Griffin pointed out that the college football regular season was the best because “every game mattered.” Now, you could theoretically have games where teams are better off resting their starters for the Playoff. “24 teams just absolutely sucks,” he declared. CFBTalkDaily agreed, calling 24 teams an “absolute JOKE,” saying “Nobody wants this. You’re destroying what makes college football special. The regular season is supposed to MATTER. Not every team deserves a participation trophy. Stop ruining the sport for money.” It’s hard to disagree when you see that kind of passionate backlash.
So, get ready for a completely different kind of Saturday come 2027. As CFB Kings put it, “This is the final year of actual College Football before we head into the corporate “lose as much as you want” meaningless regular season slopfest.” It’s gonna be a wild ride, and honestly, it feels like we just lost a piece of what made college football magic.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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