The college football landscape is poised for a seismic shift as administrators discuss a 24‑team College Football Playoff that could reshape how teams qualify for the postseason.
The proposal enjoys the backing of the Big Ten, the ACC and the Big 12, while the SEC has publicly expressed a preference for a more modest 16‑team field.
A New Format on the Horizon
For the University of Missouri, the conversation is more than theoretical. The Tigers have never secured a spot in the current four‑team playoff, but their recent on‑field résumé suggests they would have been in the conversation under the expanded format.
In 2014 the team posted a 10‑2 record and finished the season ranked No. 16 in the final CFP poll, a year that would have earned them a seed under the new model.
Two years later, an 8‑4 campaign placed them at No. 23 in the CFP rankings, and the pattern repeated in 2023 when a 10‑2 record vaulted them to No. 9, their highest ever placement.
The following season, a 9‑3 finish earned a No. 19 ranking, again aligning with the criteria that analysts say would have translated into a playoff berth.
What the Numbers Say
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz has been vocal about the potential benefits of a larger bracket, arguing that consistent winning should be rewarded with postseason inclusion.
His perspective is echoed by former coaches and analysts such as Barry Odom, Dan Dakich, Brian Roberts and reporter Cody Goodwin, who have all weighed in on the debate.
Beyond the numbers, the prospect of a 24‑team tournament raises questions about scheduling, travel and the impact on traditional bowl relationships, issues that will need to be ironed out as the conversation progresses.