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Conference commissioner hints at conversations about 8-team College Football Playoff
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Yes, we’ve reached that time of year again. The season that was once dedicated to individual honors and bowl games is now becoming College Football Playoff expansion conversation month.
Around this time every year, the talk of expanding the College Football Playoff from four teams to eight resurfaces. Commissioners and athletic directors from conferences and teams that have been left out usually argue that there should be a bigger field.
It’s no different this year, and it sounds like the argument to expand the field is picking up steam.
According to Brett McMurphy of Stadium, Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott says that the “process has started” behind the scenes in regards to expansion talk. The Pac-12 was left out of the field again this season.
Pac-12 commish Larry Scott said “the process has started” behind the scenes regarding discussion among conference commissioners about @CFBPlayoff expansion to 8-teams. Still unlikely will happen before current deal expires in 2025-26
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 12, 2019
Pac-12 commish Larry Scott said he favors all Power 5 conference schools having to play 10 Power 5 opponents. He thinks that could be a negotiation point when/if @CFBPlayoff expands, requiring 10 Power 5 opponents for all Power 5 schools
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 12, 2019
Outgoing B1G commissioner also said he could be in favor of an eight-team field “under the right circumstances.”
Through the first six years of the College Football Playoff, the SEC and ACC are the only two conferences who have made appearances every year. The SEC is currently the only conference to land two teams in the field in the same season.
With the committee having an easy time selecting the four best teams this season, there isn’t as much conversation as there was a season ago, when three teams were vying for that fourth spot. There’s still plenty of interest in adding another round, though.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB