Urban Meyer has never been shy about speaking his mind, and for years, the former Florida and Ohio State head coach was a vocal opponent of expanding the College Football Playoff. But after watching the first year of the 12-team format unfold, Meyer is ready to admit he may have been wrong.
“At first I couldn’t stand the idea,” Meyer said on The Triple Option podcast. “I just thought you would dilute the product, but what I’m witnessing this year, and we’re all learning, is that the parity is unbelievable.”
That admission marks a significant shift for a coach who once believed a larger field would water down the sport’s regular season. Instead, the 2024 campaign has been defined by chaos and unpredictability, with only five power programs—none from the SEC—still undefeated. That wide-open race has Meyer rethinking his stance, even as the playoff is poised to grow again.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the CFP is nearing a deal to expand to 24 teams by 2027, a move that would likely eliminate conference championship games. The Heisman Trophy ceremony and the annual Army-Navy game would move to the first week of December, with first-round playoff games starting the second week—possibly on weeknights.
While Meyer has warmed to the idea of a bigger bracket, he draws a hard line at scrapping conference title games. “The only concern I have, and I’ll keep saying this as long as I’m around, those who say that conference championship games are not important, I will say never played in it, never coached in it, and never won a ring,” Meyer said. “I think conference championship games are one of the most exciting things that have ever happened in my lifetime and certainly for my players.”
Meyer’s passion for those games is rooted in personal experience. He won three BCS national titles and multiple conference championships during his tenure, and he believes those late-November showdowns carry a unique weight that a playoff game simply can’t replicate. With 24 teams in the field, however, there may be little room—or need—for them.
The proposed 24-team format would grant automatic bids to the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and SEC champions, plus the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. With that many spots available, tiebreakers might become unnecessary, making conference title games redundant in the eyes of many administrators.
But Meyer isn’t convinced that progress means throwing away tradition. “I think you can have both,” he said. “You can have a great playoff and still keep these games that mean so much to the players and the fans.”
As the CFP continues to evolve, Meyer’s evolving perspective reflects a broader debate within the sport. The playoff bracket picture is already shifting weekly, and questions about how to officiate these high-stakes games are growing louder. For now, Meyer is enjoying the ride—even if he’s still fighting to save one of college football’s oldest traditions.
