The American Football Coaches Association is pushing for major changes to college football’s postseason structure, including a significant expansion of the College Football Playoff.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that the AFCA board voted in favor of exploring a 24-team playoff model, a move that would dramatically reshape the sport. According to Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the board wants “the maximum number of participants” in the postseason field.
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However, that expansion would come with a major tradeoff: eliminating conference championship games. The proposal would preserve the standalone window for the Army–Navy Game while allowing flexibility for other matchups on that day.
The AFCA also emphasized the need to shorten the season. The organization is recommending that the playoff conclude by the second week of January and reduce the minimum number of days between games to no fewer than six. In a statement, the AFCA said the current length of the season is “a critical issue” and acknowledged the need for a more sustainable structure for student-athletes.
The CFP expanded to 12 teams in the 2024-25 season and continues to evolve, with new automatic bid rules for power conferences already in place.
At one point, Kentucky reached heights it had never seen before, posting 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021 under Mark Stoops. Many believed that if the College Football Playoff expanded, Stoops could have positioned Kentucky to compete for a spot. Unfortunately, 2021 marked the peak for Kentucky football under his tenure.
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For Kentucky, further expansion could create new opportunities. Now led by first-year head coach Will Stein, the Wildcats are rebuilding, but a larger playoff field could eventually open the door for a future appearance.
