It was only a matter of time. A good product — the College Football Playoff — has been ruined because of money and TV ratings.
That’s right, a little over a decade since the playoff was introduced as a four-team field, the playoff has been ruined a-la the BCS system. The field expanded to 12 teams a few years ago which was already a disappointment development, but the field is now expected to double.
Pete Thamel reported on Thursday afternoon that the playoff is nearing a deal to expand to 24 teams which would start in 2027. Playoff ruined.
Sources: The College Football Playoff is nearing a deal to expand to 24 teams, per sources. The new format will start in 2027 and is expected to come together in the near future, pending final approvals. pic.twitter.com/tRdVAiqKax
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 15, 2026
No, anyone who follows Michigan State shouldn’t be upset about this because it might actually give the Spartans a chance to make the field within the next few years if the Pat Fitzgerald era goes as planned. But college football purists should be upset. This may give teams like Michigan State a realistic chance to make the playoff right after a rebuild, but it takes away from the luster of the whole event.
Michigan State may not have a realistic shot in a 12-team field during its current rebuild and it definitely hasn’t even sniffed the field since 2021 but now the Spartans have a shot.
It doesn’t matter, though. This is as bad as expanding the NCAA Tournament field which has been voted on and will expand from 68 to 76 teams. Obviously having more teams means more money for the NCAA but it also means more parity. It also makes the regular season less important. Losing 1-2 games used to eliminate you from contention, but now you’ll be able to lose 3-4 and still make the playoff.
Not good.
It’s clear what the NCAA’s priority is
As if we didn’t already know, the only thing that really matters to the NCAA is money.
This has been made known over the years with who it punishes and rewards and which programs get special treatment, but the NCAA Tournament expansion and now the College Football Playoff field doubling is just shoving the fact that the NCAA cares about nothing but money in our faces.
The NCAA doesn’t care about our viewing pleasure or the fans, it cares about how much money it can rake in every bowl season and every March. They don’t care if that takes away from the luster of these near-perfect events.
The NCAA Tournament was at its best when it was at 64 and the College Football Playoff was elite when it was just four teams. Unfortunatelty, there just wasn’t enough money there for the NCAA.
Anything for a buck.
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