The college football offseason has begun to revolve around a polarizing subject: expanding the College Football Playoff. Few people agree on what that expansion should look like. Most either support a minimal increase or a major overhaul, with a 24-team format emerging as the most-discussed option.
Many people support expansion, especially NCAA conference commissioners. Fans remain divided, and coaches still seem unsure about how far the playoff should expand. Despite strong backing in some circles, however, the proposal continues to face significant opposition.
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Recent reports indicated that ESPN does not support a full 24-team expansion. Instead, the network reportedly prefers a 14- or 16-team format, particularly because it currently owns the rights through a 14-team field. Now, another influential figure has spoken out against the idea. Former coach Urban Meyer, who coached the College Football Playoff’s first national champion, believes a 24-team format goes too far.
Former head coach Urban Meyer
Pump the brakes
Meyer was asked whether a 24-team playoff would be excessive or appropriate. He had previously opposed a 12-team playoff as well. This time, his answer was straightforward: 24 teams is too many.
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“I think 24 is too much,” Meyer said on his “The Script” appearance.
He continued, “I was wrong about 12. I thought 12 was a little bit too much. Miami gets in there, they would have never gotten in, and they should have won the national title.”
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Many fans worry that expanding the field too much would allow undeserving teams into the postseason and reduce the importance of being a true top-10 program. Meyer agreed with that concern.
Urban Meyer
“You start dipping down, like you said, the teams that have very mediocre years [they] should not be in the playoffs, so I think 24 is too much,” Meyer said about a potential 24-team playoff.
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A 24-team format would have included programs such as Notre Dame, USC, and Texas this past season, but it also would have opened the door for teams like Iowa and Georgia Tech. While expansion would broaden the competition field, critics argue it would also dilute the importance of the regular season.
So, is Meyer right about a 24-team expansion? Has the playoff reached the point where bigger is no longer better? If any opinion carries weight in this debate, Meyer’s certainly deserves consideration.
