Chris Del Conte addresses college football’s changing environment

University of Texas at Austin Athletic Director Chris Del Conte addressed significant changes in college athletics during the Texas Athletics Town Hall. Del Conte highlighted the evolving landscape of legal, financial, and regulatory guidelines impacting athletic programs nationwide. A major focus was on football scheduling and its influence on the College Football Playoff (CFP).

Del Conte expressed support for increasing the Southeastern Conference's schedule from eight to nine games, noting his preference for expanding the CFP. He argued that an expanded playoff would reduce the incentive for teams to schedule weaker opponents to secure better records for playoff consideration. Texas has faced criticism for scheduling challenging nonconference games against Ohio State and Michigan, which Del Conte defends as valuable for fans.

Additionally, Texas has scheduled future nonconference games against Notre Dame in 2028 and 2029, reflecting the program's commitment to competitive matchups. Del Conte emphasized the importance of evolving the playoff system to accommodate the changing dynamics of college football. He acknowledged the ongoing challenges athletic directors face in adapting to these changes