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The movement for expansion to the College Football Playoff has taken another step.
Earlier this summer, the College Football Playoff announced that it was seriously considering a move from a four-team field to a 12-team format for future seasons. And while nothing is guaranteed, it’s essentially a foregone conclusion that we’ll soon have a larger bracket to determine a national champion.
On Tuesday, board chairman Mark Keenum released a statement regarding the next step in the process of working toward a 12-team playoff.
“The College Football Playoff (CFP) board of managers today heard a presentation from a working group appointed to look into the possibility of expanding the College Football Playoff,” Keenum said in a statement. “It was an excellent presentation and on behalf of the board, I am grateful to the four members who spent two years discussing this important issue and arriving at its recommendation for a 12-team playoff. The four-team playoff has been a great success and I’m confident it will remain a success. Nevertheless, it is our responsibility to explore options to make it even better by increasing the number of schools that participate in it.
“Having heard the presentation made today by the working group, along with the management committee that joined us for today’s meeting, the board has authorized the management committee to begin a summer review phase that will engage other important voices in this matter. These include many people on our campuses, such as student-athletes, athletics directors, faculty athletics representatives, coaches, and university presidents and chancellors. Their opinions are important, and we want to hear them. We have relationships with the bowls and a broadcast partner with whom we will want to consult to explore the feasibility of the 12-team proposal.
“This too will happen during this summer study period. Having given the management committee the charge to look into expansion, it is our duty to take their good work and ascertain whether it is feasible based on the feedback we receive. I caution observers of our process not to rush to conclusions about what this board may decide. The working group has presented us a thorough and thoughtful proposal. There is more work to do, more listening to do and more information needed before we can make a decision.
“We look forward to hearing more and learning more in time for our next meeting in September.”
The College Football Playoff was introduced for the 2014 season. It’s been in place for the last seven seasons, but there’s been growing conversation about expanding the field to include more teams and “leveling the playing field.”
Implementation of a 12-team field is still a few years away, but things are moving quickly.
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