College football needs a super league: Kirk Herbstreit

The College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams in 2024, aiming to provide more opportunities for deserving programs, including those from the Group of 6 conferences, to compete for the national championship. In 2025, James Madison and Tulane from the Group of 6 participated in the CFP but were eliminated in the first round after suffering blowout losses. The inclusion of Group of 6 teams in the playoff aims to address potential antitrust concerns, although it sparked debate over the exclusion of teams like Notre Dame and BYU.

ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit suggested creating a separate league for Power 4 programs, proposing a structure similar to professional leagues with a single commissioner. This idea reflects ongoing discussions about restructuring college football governance, especially in light of recent changes in the sport. Herbstreit compared the current college football governance to a fragmented system, advocating for a unified structure to streamline decision-making and maintain competitive balance. The concept of a super league and centralized leadership continues to gain traction as