Report: Big Ten pushing expanded 24-team College Football Playoff

The College Football Playoff (CFP) is poised for potential expansion beyond its current 12-team structure, with discussions intensifying among major conferences. The Big Ten and SEC have been at odds over the ideal format, with the Big Ten advocating for a 24-team field, while the SEC supports a 16-team model. Disagreements have centered on the number of automatic bids versus at-large spots.

The Big Ten is now pushing for a compromise plan that includes initially expanding to 16 teams, with a future goal of reaching 24 teams by the 2029 season. This proposal would see the elimination of conference championship games and include automatic qualifiers in the initial 16-team setup. Eventually, the expanded model would feature the highest-ranked teams, including one Group of Five representative.

The proposed format for a 16-team playoff includes the top two teams receiving byes, with initial rounds in December and later rounds aligned with traditional bowl dates. In the 24-team scenario, the top eight