Mike Elko warns against College Football Playoff expansion risking regular season value
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Apr 29
Mike Elko warns against College Football Playoff expansion risking regular season value
11 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Apr 29
Texas A&M coach Mike Elko cautions that expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams, as some stakeholders propose, could undermine the sport's high-stakes regular season.
Elko argues that unlike college basketball's NCAA Tournament, which can expand with minimal impact, college football's appeal relies on every regular season game mattering for playoff qualification.
He warns that excessive expansion would make college football resemble college basketball, reducing exclusivity and fan engagement during the regular season, as conference commissioners continue to debate playoff size and format.
As the playoff grows, are student-athletes being pushed past their physical and academic limits?
Is the treasured conference championship weekend facing extinction due to playoff expansion?
With millions at stake, can college football expand its playoff without losing its soul?
Will a 24-team playoff kill the Cinderella dream for smaller conference champions?
Is the CFP expansion debate just a power play between the SEC and Big Ten?