The question of college football playoff expansion became even more urgent after the Notre Dame Fighting Irish were controversially left out of the 12-team field on Selection Sunday last year.
The Big Ten Conference stakeholders’ conflict with their SEC peers over the size of the playoff in the coming seasons has dominated the offseason.
Josh Pate Addresses College Football Playoff Expansion
During an interview on the “Get Up” show on Thursday, analyst Josh Pate slammed the idea of expanding the College Football Playoff and suggested that the current format should remain as it is.
“If you wanna expand something, expand selling fall Saturdays,” Pate said. “I’ve always been against expanding the playoff. How about this, I’ve always been against the concept of creating something new and then trying to move on before we see how the new works out. To me, last year, 12 was incredible because 12 gave us what everyone was crying for; more access, but it also gave us what I’ve always cried for, and that’s the balance of urgency.
“Like the puckering, the feeling in the stomach that a Fall Saturday gives you that maybe no other platform of sports gives you because you know the playoff’s safety net is always there… People can spare me with all the arguments. My counter is, ‘Yeah, but does it run counter to Fall Saturday urgency? And if it does, I’m not for it. Just a humble suggestion: can we stay at 12 for a little while?”
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During the Big Ten’s spring meetings in May, Commissioner Tony Petitti revealed that the conference was unwavering in its stance on an expanded 24-team playoff field. On the other hand, Commissioner Greg Sankey’s SEC is uncompromising on a 16-team field and remains the sole Power Four conference to stay resolute.
The country’s two wealthiest and most influential conferences differ on one of the most fundamental issues that have faced college football in modern memory. The playoff expansion matter has raised further questions about the possibility of scrapping conference championship games and further altering the college football landscape.
The question of automatic qualifiers and at-large selections has also made the issue contentious, with conference power also coming into play.
In an interview with CBS Sports, CFP Executive Director Rich Clark stayed on the fence about which format he supported.
“Whatever format they come up with, we’re going to have to execute it,” Clark said. “I see the good in all of them.”
College football’s decision-makers extended last year’s deadline to decide on expansion from Dec. 1 to Jan. 23, 2026, and let it expire without a resolution.
Once again, to implement an expanded field in 2027, stakeholders must reach a consensus by Dec. 1.
