CFP executive director Bill Hancock comments on challenges of implementing early expansion

College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock addressed the odds of early expansion in comments on Thursday.

Last week, news broke that the Playoff was expanding to a 12-team model. That move is set to begin in 2026, but the potential for it to take place even sooner still remains.

According to Nicole Auerbach, there is a sense of optimism that the 12-team Playoff can start ahead of the original schedule. However, Hancock says there are issues related to sorting the calendar out in regard to venues and media partners that need to be worked through.

CFP executive director Bill Hancock described the issues related to calendar, venues and media partners as “chicken or the egg” issues. Says they all need to be worked out in concert.

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) September 8, 2022

As for how selections for the Playoff will work in the new format, Hancock said the selection committee will still operate on the same 13-member model moving forward.

Bill Hancock says the CFP selection committee will stay at the same 13-member size and with the same composition with an expanded Playoff.

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) September 8, 2022

We’ll see how soon the details on the 12-team Playoff can be worked through and whether or not things go down prior to 2026.