CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock says chance at Playoff expansion is 'going into overtime'
Heading into Monday’s all-SEC Championship Game between Georgia and Alabama, it seems most fans of college football are ready to see an expanded Playoff.
Unfortunately for those fans, the leaders of college football do not appear to have a sense of urgency for expansion. Monday afternoon concluded the latest meetings regarding the topic of CFP expansion but no decision has been reached.
According to Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, the expansion committee “didn’t even get close” to a unanimous decision. As Bowlsby sounded off on the “frustrating” process, Executive Director Bill Hancock updated the status of the expansion meetings.
Hancock said no one is closing the door on expansion before 2026, but that the process to get there is “going into overtime.” He also listed multiple issues standing in the way of getting to expansion, including timing, bowl issues, and automatic qualifiers.
Bill Hancock says they’re “not closing the door” on expansion before 2026 but “with every passing day it’s getting harder and harder.”
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) January 10, 2022
Hancock said “we’re going into overtime.”
— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) January 10, 2022
Hancock said timing isn’t right for some, bowl issues remain, and AQ status still a sticking point.
— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) January 10, 2022
CFP board chair Mark Keenum also said the committee hopes to meet again soon. But if a resolution isn’t met, the Playoff will stick with the 4-team status quo.
Keenum says the board will hopefully meet again “within a few weeks” and remains “optimistic” they’ll get to 12 teams, which the SEC supports, but if not resolved soon “we may have to stay with the status quo … and the status quo has been very good for the SEC.”
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) January 10, 2022