On the eve of the 2026 college football season ... yes, the season has already started, but until Alabama plays, earlier games are mere teasers ... the 24-team Playoff format is in the headlines.
No groundswell of enthusiasm exists among college football fans. Support for a 24-team format can be called tepid, and that is generous. According to ChatGPT, only 9% of fans favor a 24-team field.
Despite fan reactions, expanding to 24 teams will happen anyway. It will also expand, with no guarantee that the added playoff games will match the revenue of Power Four conference championship games. Those contests could go away as a result of a 24-team field.
The Big Ten has been 'all-in' on 24 teams for some time. The SEC has determinedly said no. Greg Sankey worries about losing the SEC Championship Game's big financial payoff. He has also voiced concern about devaluing college football's regular season.
This week, Sankey's position softened. He said the SEC might no longer block a move to 24 teams if all Power Four teams played a minimum of 10 games against Power Four opponents. It is unclear what that would mean for Group of Six teams, which could not play 10 Power Four opponents.
Sankey might be adjusting his position because multiple SEC football head coaches and athletic directors have voiced support for a 24-team field.
Apparently, the SEC and the B1G want to move to a 30-day window for negotiating a new deal with ESPN. The window is required before the highly valued entertainment product can be opened to other bidders.
Reasons for Alabama fans to like a 24-team format
Even Alabama fans who prefer 12-team or 16-team formats might enjoy some components of a 24-team format. The top eight seeds get opening-round byes, so the First Round is basically play-in games. The first two rounds of games would be played on college campuses, reducing travel expenses for many fans. Plus, there would be one fewer 'buy' game in the regular season.
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