Alabama’s head coach Kalen DeBoer has thrown his weight behind a bold proposal to expand the College Football Playoff from its current 12‑team format to as many as 24 teams.
Why More Teams Could Change the Late‑Season Landscape
DeBoer argues that a larger field would force teams to battle harder for every playoff spot, turning late‑season matchups into de facto elimination games rather than mere bowl invitations.
His perspective is shaped by personal experience. In the 2023 season, Alabama rode the momentum of the expanded 12‑team bracket all the way to the Rose Bowl, where the Crimson Tide defeated both Oklahoma and Indiana to claim the championship.
A Counterpoint from the Lone Star State
Steve Sarkisian, the head coach at Texas, offers a contrasting view. He prefers a return to the traditional four‑team model and stresses the importance of conference play as a qualifier, suggesting that a smaller, more exclusive tournament preserves the regular season’s stakes.
The debate reflects a broader split among college football’s power conferences. While the SEC and Big Ten have not yet signaled agreement on any further expansion, they have agreed to keep the playoff at twelve teams for the foreseeable future, leaving the conversation open for future negotiations.
If the expansion materializes, it could reshape recruiting, scheduling, and the financial landscape of college football, especially for programs that thrive on postseason exposure.