Overview

• Reports say Tony Petitti’s office discussed a 24- or 28-team playoff that could award as many as seven automatic bids each to the Big Ten and SEC.
• Petitti reviewed the ideas with Big Ten athletic directors and then consulted SEC officials, with other conferences not included in those talks, according to reporting.
• At Big Ten media days, Petitti said formats that increase the CFP selection committee’s discretion would struggle to gain his league’s support.
• The SEC, ACC and Big 12 favor a 5+11 approach that adds four at-large bids to the current 12-team setup, a path the Big Ten opposes.
• USA TODAY columnists and other commentators argue the Big Ten’s push chases TV inventory and would let lower-performing teams into the playoff.