College Football Playoff Expansion and Florida's Future

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Outspoken With Dan Sileo

Playoff Expansion, College Football’s Growing Appeal and Florida’s Future

Expanding the college football playoff from 12 to 24 teams may be too much too quickly. While expansion creates opportunities to generate more revenue, a 16-team format could have been the sweet spot. Even with 12 teams, some of last year’s matchups felt more like bowl games than playoff games.

College sports now resemble a semi-professional system. From both talent and roster standpoints, some leagues, including the SEC, appear to be in better shape than the USFL.

For fans, however, the watchability of college football has never been greater. What was supposed to be an afternoon spent watching one or two games became a full day on the couch, with compelling matchups, triple overtime and nonstop action lasting until 11:30 at night.

Florida has been inconsistent, but the football team has talent. Summerall is bringing young energy, recruiting relentlessly and flipping five-star players. Athletes want to play for him, and even after beating Texas, he remained dissatisfied and focused on getting back to work.

There is a belief that, within three years, Summerall will prove to be a better hire than Lane Kiffin at LSU. His demanding approach may be exactly what Florida needs.

The Gators’ results also reflect the current college football landscape. Losing to South Carolina, getting blown out by Missouri and then beating Texas at Ole Miss shows how much talent and ability exists across the SEC.

Kentucky is another team drawing attention this year, and Florida faces them two or three weeks after playing Georgia. The Gators have a difficult path to the playoff, but if they can beat the teams ahead of them without another loss, they could remain around the 12-to-14 range.