The College Football Playoff (CFP) system has stirred up plenty of debate since it launched. Some folks want to expand it—Big Ten’s talking about a 24-team field, while the SEC leans toward 16.
But is bigger really better? A lot of experts aren’t convinced. They say it’s more important to fix what’s already there than to just throw more teams into the mix. That’s the angle a recent Saturday Blitz discussion took, and honestly, it makes sense.
The Quality Over Quantity Argument
We’ve all heard “quality over quantity” a thousand times, but in college football, it actually matters. Whether it’s a four or twelve-team playoff, the current CFP format has brought us some wild, unforgettable games.
Perfecting this setup should be the goal, not just making it bigger. Saturday Blitz put it well: more teams doesn’t always mean better football.
Arguments Against Expansion
There’s always going to be drama about which teams get in or whether the “best” six teams should automatically qualify. But honestly, you can fix a lot of that without blowing up the whole system.
Every time expansion comes up, it feels like a cash grab for the Power Four conferences. Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t tweak things and make it better without diluting what’s special.
Enhancing the Current System
One thing that’s really worked? Home games for higher-ranked teams in the first round. Those have been a hit and, if you ask me, should probably stick around for the second round too.
Why should teams that earn a bye miss out on the energy of a home crowd? Playing at a neutral site just isn’t the same.
Benefits of Home Games
Just picture a packed house in Bloomington, Indiana, last year. Or a Georgia-Notre Dame showdown inside Samford Stadium. The buzz would’ve been off the charts.
And what if Penn State had to play on Boise’s blue turf? Or the Oregon Ducks had to brave Lubbock instead of a bland neutral field? That’s the kind of stuff fans remember.
Popularity and Timing
College football’s never been bigger, honestly. So, why not use this moment to make the 12-team system the best it can be?
There’s plenty to iron out—like adding more home games or tweaking the schedule so it doesn’t drag on into January, when everyone’s already switching gears to the NFL playoffs.
The Future of Expansion
Expansion’s coming eventually. We’ll probably see a 16 or even 24-team bracket down the road.
But for now? Let’s focus on making the current playoff as close to perfect as possible. If the CFP took a page from the FCS playoff playbook, which has worked for ages, maybe we’d get the best of both worlds—great games and a growing fan base.
Conclusion
The idea of expanding the College Football Playoff to include more teams is tempting. Still, maybe the real priority is perfecting the current system first.
Enhancing things like home games for higher-ranked teams could make a difference. There’s also room to optimize the playoff schedule—why not tweak what we’ve got before making it bigger?
If you’re curious and want to dig deeper, check out the full article on Saturday Blitz.
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