The College Football Playoff has already doubled from four to 12 teams, but the conversation isn't stopping there. Talk of expanding to 16 or even 24 teams is gaining momentum—and the finger-pointing has begun.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey is making it clear who he believes is behind the push for a bigger playoff. During a Monday night appearance, Sankey pointed squarely at the Big Ten, saying his conference wasn't the one driving the expansion train.
“I was surprised, because they brought 16 teams to the table last year. All those 16-team ideas, they weren’t ours,” Sankey said, referencing Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti. Petitti had earlier stated that a 16-team format wasn't on the agenda for his league's meetings.
Sankey's comments add a new layer to the ongoing debate over playoff expansion, which has drawn criticism from some prominent voices. Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, for example, has voiced strong opposition to a 24-team model.
“Yeah, I think 24 is too much,” Meyer said last week. “But 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. So, I think 24 is too much. You start dipping down, like you said, (into) the teams that have very mediocre years (and they) should not be in the playoffs, so I think 24 is too much.”
The push for a larger field isn't just about competition—it's about cash. More teams mean more games, more broadcast rights, and more revenue for conferences and schools. That financial reality makes further expansion likely, even as critics warn it could dilute the quality of the playoff field.
Sankey, however, insists the SEC isn't the one pushing the envelope. “I get why coaches want expansion. I never said that we were opposed to 24 teams, I’ve told my colleagues that,” he said, suggesting his conference is open to discussion but not leading the charge.
The tension between the SEC and Big Ten mirrors broader dynamics in college sports, where the two power conferences often clash over governance and scheduling. The debate over playoff expansion is just the latest flashpoint, with each side trying to shape the future of the sport.
For now, the playoff remains at 12 teams, but the groundwork for a bigger field is being laid. As SEC's excuses ring hollow as Big Ten dominates college football, the battle over playoff expansion is only heating up.
Meanwhile, some coaches are dreaming even bigger. Bret Bielema's 32-team playoff dream ignites college football fury, showing that the appetite for expansion might not stop at 24. And as these 9 college football teams have the smoothest path to the 2026 playoff, the stakes for shaping the format are higher than ever.
