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Biggest 24-team College Football Playoff issue no one is talking about

The impending expansion of the College Football Playoff to 24 teams by 2027 could trigger a seismic shift in the sport’s structure, as elite programs may abandon their conferences entirely to maximize revenue and scheduling flexibility. Notre Dame’s current independent status serves as a model for powerhouse programs like Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State, which could form their own scheduling alliances to secure far greater media revenue—potentially doubling or tripling their current earnings—while avoiding conference-imposed constraints like shared revenue and fixed TV slots.

The Big Ten, for instance, risks becoming less relevant as its top programs prioritize autonomy, leaving mid-tier schools in the conference with diminished financial returns and fewer guarantees of playoff inclusion, even with an 8-4 record. The expanded playoff may ultimately concentrate wealth among a handful of programs, creating a two-tiered system where only the biggest brands dictate the future of college football’s financial and competitive landscape.

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