Power Conferences Push for 24-Team College Football Playoff Amid ESPN Resistance

The College Football Playoff has eliminated debate over national champions since replacing unreliable polls. But after expanding from four to 12 teams, talks now center on further growth amid fresh uncertainty in the sport.

Some fans prefer sticking with 12 teams. The SEC, college football's most powerful conference, pushes for 16 teams with more at-large bids to reward strength of schedule. That approach would boost SEC representation.

The Big Ten, Big 12, ACC and independent Notre Dame hold other views. Reports this week confirmed that most power conferences and Notre Dame support a 24-team field, despite fan skepticism.

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark told On3 that 24 teams represent their strong preference. "We like 24, we want 24," he said. "There are too many teams getting left out and 24 teams provides the type of access that is warranted. That being said, we need to do the work around the economics around a 24-team format and make sure we address any unintended consequences."

ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips echoed that stance at his conference's media days. "Our desire with the coaches and the ADs is 24," Phillips said. "When you’re leaving national championship-contending teams out of the playoff, you don’t have the right number. We lived through it, we suffered through it with Florida State, when the field was four."

"I know other schools have suffered for it. Notre Dame was a CFP worthy team last year and you saw what happened to the last team that got invited with Miami," he added.

The position matches early proposals from Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti after the 2025-2026 season. With the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC and Notre Dame — four of the sport's five key voices — aligned on 24 teams, the holdup stems mainly from ESPN.

"ESPN’s made it clear, they want it to stay at 12 or 14, but no more than 16," Phillips said Wednesday.

ESPN holds rights through a 14-team field, so bigger expansion would trigger bidding on extra games. That dynamic could block the 24-team push, even from fans wary of ESPN's influence.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey recently restated support for 16 teams. "That focus hasn’t changed," Sankey said Monday at a media event in Alabama. "We’re open to the conversation, but there are a lot of ideas out there that have to be supported with analysis and information, not speculation."

The ACC and Big 12 see a bigger field as a way to gain ground against Big Ten and SEC dominance. The Big Ten eyes added revenue and home playoff games. Notre Dame worries about matching Big Ten or SEC strength of schedule as teams prioritize playoff access over tough non-conference matchups.

The SEC aims for 16 teams with minimal auto-bids to place half its league in the playoff and cement its top status.