Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch has thrown his weight behind a sweeping revision of the College Football Playoff, calling for a 24‑team field that would expand the traditional four‑team format and give teams with three losses a realistic shot at the national championship if they win at least 75 % of their games.
Central to his vision is a Power Four‑only non‑conference slate for the opening weeks, a schedule that would pit Big Ten members against opponents from the Big 12, SEC and ACC before the conference season begins, with specific matchups against Utah State and FCS program Eastern Washington slated for the 2026 season.
Fisch argues that such a structure would provide a clearer gauge of each conference’s strength, allowing teams that finish with three defeats to remain in championship contention if they win at least 75 % of their games, while also giving lower‑funded leagues a chance to compete on a national stage.
Scheduling Implications
If adopted, the plan would reshape early‑season matchups and could alter the traditional rhythms of rivalry games, forcing schools to balance competitive balance with regional traditions, including the Apple Cup rivalry between Washington and Washington State.