Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has once again put his weight behind a sweeping change to the College Football Playoff, calling for the tournament to grow from its current 12‑team framework to a 24‑team showcase.
A call echoed in Iowa City
Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz, the longest‑tenured coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision, threw his support behind the proposal, arguing that a larger field would spread the benefits of postseason play across every campus.
Ferentz said the expansion would not be a windfall for a single program but a genuine opportunity for all schools to compete on a national stage, potentially easing some of the structural frustrations that have long plagued the sport.
He also recalled the ripple effects of the previous four‑team format, noting that its limited scope had diminished the traditional bowl experience and prompted increasing numbers of players to opt out of postseason games.
The convergence of opinion from both the conference’s administrative leader and a veteran coach signals a growing momentum for a playoff redesign that could reshape the postseason landscape in the coming years.