Overview
- ESPN’s Heather Dinich reports there is more momentum than ever to expand the CFP to 16 teams as early as 2026, contingent on agreement between SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti.
- Dinich says a decision would need to be made by the end of the month to implement a 16-team field for next season.
- Reporting characterizes the primary driver of further expansion as boosting TV rights value and easing qualification for powerhouse programs rather than improving matchup quality.
- Observers expect SEC leadership to push for an approach that advantages power conferences, reflecting their influence over the playoff format.
- A Las Vegas Review-Journal column argues NIL, revenue sharing, and the transfer portal have elevated parity but also created volatility, citing the recent Demond Williams dispute as evidence fueling calls for clearer rules.