CFBPlayoffs: Why A 12 Team Expansion

Listen, I’m not here to argue if there should or should not be an expansion of teams for the College Football Playoffs. I was originally COMPLETELY against it, but I think there does need to be some teams added. However, I don’t think it should be 12 teams. Hell, I don’t even think it should be 10 teams. If you’re going into double digits as far as amount of teams in then just admit it is a full on money grab. I’d at least respect the decision. You could never convince me that 10-12 teams getting in is the right move for competitiveness. My ideal setup would be a 6-team playoff, but I’d concede up to eight teams. 

College Football is by far my favorite sport to watch. I’ve been passionate about the sport itself for most of my life, and there has never been a season where I thought or could actually argue that team 9, 10, 11, or 12 had a legitimate argument to be given a shot at that title. I said I’d concede to an 8-team playoff, but I even struggle to remember or believe team seven or eight have a real argument about having a real shot either. No matter how many teams you put in, someone is going to argue the first few out belong in. They don’t when we get into the double digit thing. 

I’d love just to ramp it up to a 6-team playoff. It keeps the exclusivity of it. Stop trying to make like the NFL playoffs, or even the lower divisions in college. It’s different and that’s a good thing. Every single second of every single game matters right now. Go to 12, it won’t. It keeps the true fight or flight every week and everyone involved would feel it and know it. College Football is NOT College Basketball. A VCU is NEVER going to knock off an Alabama on the football field. There’s no 3-pointer to get hot with and keep you in the game. We keep expanding things and just like NCAA March Madness, other than a fun random run into the Elite 8, it’s the blue bloods and the elites that continually cut the nets down just like before expansion. You can put as many teams as you want into the College Football Playoffs, and it’s still going to be the Alabama’s, Clemsons, Georgias, Ohio States, USC, Oklahomas, etc that win it all. 

If it’s a money grab at 12 teams just say it, but don’t insult the smart people’s intelligence by saying that many each season will have a real shot. They won’t. 12 is stopping so many opt outs that late in the season. 12 being considered College Football Playoff games can bring more attention and require higher dollars for sponsorship and viewing rights. That’s it. It isn’t giving 9, 10, 11, or 12 a REAL shot no matter how you spin it.