College Football's 24-Team Playoff Raises the Stakes

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College Football Playoff Expansion Raises Concerns About Money, Injuries and the Regular Season

The college football playoffs are set to expand from 12 teams to 24, creating more knockout-round games and potential matchups. While playoff games are exciting, the expansion appears to follow a broader trend toward adding games and generating more money.

One concern is that a larger playoff field could make the regular season feel less important. In the past, losing one game could put a team’s playoff hopes in danger, while two losses could eliminate it. With 24 teams, programs with three losses may still reach the playoffs, reducing the pressure and stakes that drive fans to attend regular-season games.

The additional games could also take a physical toll on college athletes. High-profile teams may end up playing as many games as NFL teams, even as injuries continue to increase. Similar concerns exist across sports and age groups, with some youth players now competing in roughly 40 games per year instead of 20. The heavier schedules can lead to more knee and joint injuries and force players out of sports earlier in life.

The financial motivation is clear. A five-year expansion agreement is valued at nearly $1.7 billion beginning with the 2027 season. Traditional bowl games may be incorporated into the playoff system, but the experience will not be the same.

College sports have changed as television rights and NIL have brought more money into the landscape. Live sports also remain a major form of appointment viewing at a time when many shows are released for on-demand binge-watching. Sports still bring people together around the television, making them especially valuable to broadcasters.