Get ready for a massive shake-up in college football because the expanded 24-team College Football Playoff, set to kick off in 2027, is more than just a bigger bracket. It’s a game-changer, according to FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt. On the latest episode of “The Joel Klatt Show,” Klatt dove deep into the major pros and cons of nearly doubling the postseason field from the current 12-team format, which, let’s be honest, only just got introduced in 2024. This new system keeps the rewards for top seeds, like those crucial home playoff games and first-round byes, but it also sparks some real questions about competition and how teams will even get in with their records.
The Regular Season Just Got Real
Klatt kicked off his list of pros arguing that this new format injects way more value and competition into the regular season. Think about it: when you’ve got two undefeated titans like Ohio State and Michigan battling it out, the loser isn’t automatically out of the postseason picture anymore. That’s huge! As Klatt himself said, “I think there’s an expansion of the value of the regular season, a great Ohio State, Michigan matchup of two undefeated teams, the loser is not kept out of this version of the college football postseason.” He went on to explain that “there is some toothpaste already out of the tube as it relates to the very top-end games in our sport and what they used to mean in the old model and what they currently mean in this model.”
This shift means teams with perfect records and tougher non-conference slates are going to be heavily rewarded, even if their records are identical to a team who didn’t challenge themselves as much. Those early non-conference games? They’re now pivotal for building a strong CFP campaign right from the start. Imagine a No. 6 Ohio State with one loss. If that loss was to a top-25 non-conference opponent like Texas, their playoff case is way stronger than if they dropped one to an unranked Group of Six team before conference play even began. Klatt believes this will force major conferences to create more competitive non-conference schedules. “There will be agreements in place between the major conferences to play games that matter in the non-conference, and I think that that is a great thing. We don’t want to play all the directional schools. We don’t want to do that in college football,” Klatt emphasized. “What we want to see is Texas vs. Ohio State. We’d love to see Georgia vs. Oregon. We’d love to see Michigan, Alabama. We want to see these games. And I believe that the way that things are going and the structures that will be in place, those games will not only happen, but they will be mandated.” Now that’s what I call must-watch TV every single week.
Home Field Advantage Gets A Major Upgrade
And if you thought home playoff games were cool under the 12-team format, get ready for an even bigger boost. The current system only allowed for four home playoff games, giving fans a taste of that incredible atmosphere. But with the 24-team format? That number doubles! We’re talking eight home playoff games, bringing that electric energy directly to campuses and passionate fanbases across the country. That’s more chances for fans to pack their stadiums, more chants, more noise, and more incredible moments for the home team advantage.
While Klatt did touch on some concerns about the competition level and who gets in with certain records, the potential for a more valuable regular season and double the home playoff games is something to seriously look forward to. We’re talking about a future where every single Saturday could mean so much more, where those blockbuster non-conference matchups aren’t just for bragging rights, they’re actual playoff resume builders. Get ready, because 2027 is shaping up to be an absolutely epic year for college football.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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