Josh Pate Blasts College Football Playoff’s 24-Team Expansion
The College Football Playoff (CFP) and ESPN have formalized their long-discussed expansion plans, announcing a shift to a 24-team format beginning in the 2027 season. The move eliminates conference championship games for the Power Five conferences, replacing them with additional playoff slots.
Critics, including prominent college football analyst Josh Pate, have sharply criticized the decision, arguing it undermines the value of the regular season and unfairly redistributes its significance. Pate called the framing of the expansion ‘intellectually bankrupt,’ suggesting the trade-off of bowl games for playoff spots creates no new value.
Meanwhile, CFP Executive Director Rich Clark defended the decision, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to delivering a ‘spectacular’ postseason while acknowledging fan concerns were considered in the process.
