Appears CFP Expansion On Hold

[Brick]

...at least until 2026 unless something changes.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-fo...at-least-2026/

[Baer Creighton]

"something changes"= when CFB no longer exists

[TheRainKing]

That timing looks about right. A year after OU and Texas join the SEC (at the latest).

[Garbage Poster]

It'll change when the two best teams in the SEC have two losses and are left out of the playoffs.

[Section31]

It'll change when the two best teams in the SEC have two losses and are left out of the playoffs.

No, it's going to change when the have-nots realize they are a have-not. The PAC sort of knows it and the ACC is about to get a dose of it. The Hateful 8 are still just being spiteful...they KNOW their days are numbered.

In the end, they have no chance of being relevant without expansion. Relevancy == money. Without relevancy they aren't a P5 conference.

[AppySooner]

No, it's going to change when the have-nots realize they are a have-not. The PAC sort of knows it and the ACC is about to get a dose of it. The Hateful 8 are still just being spiteful...they KNOW their days are numbered.

In the end, they have no chance of being relevant without expansion. Relevancy == money. Without relevancy they aren't a P5 conference.

Just a question of how many (more) years of the PAC and B12 being shut out it will take. And the damage to their members will be done by then, in revenue and perception.

[ouwxgrad_v2]

Just a question of how many (more) years of the PAC and B12 being shut out it will take. And the damage to their members will be done by then, in revenue and perception.

We haven't exactly helped the B12's perception when we've been included. Not the last couple of times, for sure.

I'm cool with the delay, especially considering the plan that was under consideration. I just hope that in the meantime, the powers-that-be somehow have an "Emperors' New Clothes" kind of moment where one of them realizes that 12 is stupid and 8 is fine, that one whispers to the others "hey, guys, 12 is stupid and 8 is fine," and the rest of them wake up and think "Hey, know what? 12 is stupid. 8 is fine."

[EatLeadCommie]

The Big XII is in support of expansion, folks, so no need to blame them. This comes from the so-called "Alliance" conferences, and that alliance is paper thin. They'll loosen up when they're done licking their phantom wounds.

[Section31]

We haven't exactly helped the B12's perception when we've been included. Not the last couple of times, for sure.

I'm cool with the delay, especially considering the plan that was under consideration. I just hope that in the meantime, the powers-that-be somehow have an "Emperors' New Clothes" kind of moment where one of them realizes that 12 is stupid and 8 is fine, that one whispers to the others "hey, guys, 12 is stupid and 8 is fine," and the rest of them wake up and think "Hey, know what? 12 is stupid. 8 is fine."

That's more perception than reality as it relates to us being any good. The year LSU smoked us, they smoked Clemson. The year Bama beat us, they did that to everyone they played that year outside of UGA. It sucks, but the perception is media driven at times. It's also the price paid for actually being IN the game(s). Like I said, it still sucks.

[49cent]

No, it's going to change when the have-nots realize they are a have-not. The PAC sort of knows it and the ACC is about to get a dose of it. The Hateful 8 are still just being spiteful...they KNOW their days are numbered.

In the end, they have no chance of being relevant without expansion. Relevancy == money. Without relevancy they aren't a P5 conference.

You’d think they have an idea that this isn’t about *them* after watching Cincinnati get boat raced in the CFP.

[SoonernVolved]

Just a question of how many (more) years of the PAC and B12 being shut out it will take. And the damage to their members will be done by then, in revenue and perception.

Several things:

#1: This is a move by the Big Joke,(aka the Alliance), in regards to the SEC ultimately winning the conference expansion wars,(which began in the late 80’s to early 90’s). With the increased power & prestige the SEC will get with the additions of Oklahoma & Texas,(across multiple sports mind you), it will equal a lot more money,(reports say it will be well north of $1.1 billion annually) & that brings power. By expanding, it will allow more SEC teams to go into the playoffs & the Alliance does not want that. Sad thing is, all three of those conferences had their chances to land both Oklahoma & Texas and they turned them down.

#2: The Big XII is no longer a power conference once Oklahoma & Texas leaves. They will lose millions in annual pay & will fall into being the best of the G5-6 conferences. Bowlsby’s pride & ego sowed the seeds that ultimately ended the conference,(what does it say when even the Alliance won’t invite you in?), but he has latched on to being a voting surrogate for the Alliance.

#3: The B1G is good financially speaking. They will go over a billion in annual tv money when the tv contracts are renegotiated, so they can afford to wait. However, they didn’t have the voting bloc to prevent the SEC from getting what they wanted,( playoff expansion,(which was favored by the G5 as well), so they got both the PAC & ACC to get together to form a powerful voting bloc.

Think about this, they turned down the chance to make around $450 million plus more annually had they expanded. That should tell you everything you need to know.

[ouwxgrad_v2]

That's more perception than reality as it relates to us being any good. The year LSU smoked us, they smoked Clemson. The year Bama beat us, they did that to everyone they played that year outside of UGA. It sucks, but the perception is media driven at times. It's also the price paid for actually being IN the game(s). Like I said, it still sucks.

There's certainly a fair bit of perception there. We still were not up to "serious contender" standards either year because of the horrors that Bob's idiot brother wrought on the defense, IMO; put another way, I think the reality played into the perception pretty easily.

[RockFlagandEagle]

There's certainly a fair bit of perception there. We still were not up to "serious contender" standards either year because of the horrors that Bob's idiot brother wrought on the defense, IMO; put another way, I think the reality played into the perception pretty easily.

It doesn't matter who is responsible or why the perception is there and when you take out the 2 highest perceived teams, you're left with jack and squat. Big Xii better get on board and push as hard as they can for expansion. ACC and Pac better too. Look at the last 5 years. No Pac teams and 1 ACC team who is kind of a mess right now.

And this is coming from an anti-playoff person. But it's gotten to the point where we all know it's going to happen so let's get to it. My stance long ago was I didn't mind the 4 team playoff and could see a 6-8 team being a nice landing spot if it would hold there...but knew it wouldn't. No post season tournament has ever stopped growing when they hit that sweet spot.

[Hermit]

That's more perception than reality as it relates to us being any good. The year LSU smoked us, they smoked Clemson. The year Bama beat us, they did that to everyone they played that year outside of UGA. It sucks, but the perception is media driven at times. It's also the price paid for actually being IN the game(s). Like I said, it still sucks.

LSU was leading 49 - 14 at halftime. That's more than just " smoked " , Clemson was behind 28-17 at half, it was still a game.

And Bama lost to Clemson badly, 44 - 16 . Was up on OU 28 - 0 at 13 minutes left in second qtr, final score was very deceiving as to how that game played out.

[Section31]

LSU was leading 49 - 14 at halftime. That's more than just " smoked " , Clemson was behind 28-17 at half, it was still a game.

And Bama lost to Clemson badly, 44 - 16 . Was up on OU 28 - 0 at 13 minutes left in second qtr, final score was very deceiving as to how that game played out.

Sugar coat it anyway you want

[OU48A]

[camel at sea]

Just a question of how many (more) years of the PAC and B12 being shut out it will take. And the damage to their members will be done by then, in revenue and perception.

The Big 12 was on board with CFP expansion. So was the PAC. By most accounts, the ACC is the league that gummed up the process the most. My guess is that they believe the PAC's big brands try to join the B1G without an infusion of CFP money on the immediate horizon. A 20 team B1G probably doesn't raid the ACC. So this is a survival move by the ACC.

[echo101]

Putting it off doesn't do anything for us right now. No real reason to keep delaying what some teams and most fans want. We'd all like to see some fairness with crowning an undisputed championship team. What we've had for years is somewhat of a joke. Go to something like 16 teams and bracket it like basketball does... the sweet 16.

[MichSooner]

It'll change when the two best teams in the SEC have two losses and are left out of the playoffs.

No it won't. The B1G, Pac, and ACC voted, NO, for that very reason. B1G, PAC12, ACC, and new Big XII would celebrate if the SEC champ had 2 losses and was excluded.

[AppySooner]

No it won't. The B1G, Pac, and ACC voted, NO, for that very reason. B1G, PAC12, ACC, and new Big XII would celebrate if the SEC champ had 2 losses and was excluded.

The committee has already toyed with picking 11-2 SEC *non-champions*, when the league was significantly weaker than it will be when we join. If they think an 11-2 super-SEC champ Alabama with losses to 10-2 OU and 10-2 Georgia, or something like that, is getting bumped for anyone who loses any game in the ACC or PAC, they’re wrong.

[soonergrad]

We haven't exactly helped the B12's perception when we've been included. Not the last couple of times, for sure.

I'm cool with the delay, especially considering the plan that was under consideration. I just hope that in the meantime, the powers-that-be somehow have an "Emperors' New Clothes" kind of moment where one of them realizes that 12 is stupid and 8 is fine, that one whispers to the others "hey, guys, 12 is stupid and 8 is fine," and the rest of them wake up and think "Hey, know what? 12 is stupid. 8 is fine."

Greg Sankey has already said multiple times that the SEC will never support 8 teams that has autobids for conference champions. It is a non starter. Like he has repeatedly said, the SEC does NOT need expansion, as it already puts multiple teams in the playoffs regularly.

[soonergrad]

No it won't. The B1G, Pac, and ACC voted, NO, for that very reason. B1G, PAC12, ACC, and new Big XII would celebrate if the SEC champ had 2 losses and was excluded.

Even a 2 loss SEC Champion will make the CFP.

[Highfligher]

No, it's going to change when the have-nots realize they are a have-not. The PAC sort of knows it and the ACC is about to get a dose of it. The Hateful 8 are still just being spiteful...they KNOW their days are numbered.

In the end, they have no chance of being relevant without expansion. Relevancy == money. Without relevancy they aren't a P5 conference.

I tend to agree with this. Expanding the 12 and giving 6 spots to conference champs virtually guarantees the Big 12 champ in every year even without OU and Texas. None of those schools are getting a shot in at 4 team playoff where conference champs aren't a qualifier, with or without OU and Texas as partners. The PAC can say that now as well and the ACC will be saying that with a down Clemson. Cockbocking playoff expansion is cutting off their nose to spite their face. But SEC fatigue is real and they know most of the at large births will be SEC schools.

[ChpThril]

Good! Fuck expansion! Hell…. 4 teams is already too many!

[Hermit]

Good! Fuck expansion! Hell…. 4 teams is already too many!

Ya know what, I'm sort've with this. What we've seen so far, should tell us that expansion is not necessary to find the best team.

[ab5sr]

But they said our Realignment thread will continue unabated!

[ChpThril]

Ya know what, I'm sort've with this. What we've seen so far, should tell us that expansion is not necessary to find the best team.

Ive always said it should be 3 teams. 2v3 pigtail to play 1.

we’ve already seen there’s really never been more than 3 teams that are worthy. Usually it’s only been 2 teams, but a few times there’s been a third.

[RockFlagandEagle]

Ya know what, I'm sort've with this. What we've seen so far, should tell us that expansion is not necessary to find the best team.

Every post season tournament expansion has never been about finding the best team. Baseball plays 166ish games. Do we really need to have a 10 team tournament? NBA almost half the teams make it after playing 82 games.

[OrangeBeachBum68]

Sankey is in the catbird seat, and he knows it. That's why he has said all along, we're happy staying at 4 if you other guys don't agree to expand. The SEC is well-positioned no matter which way this all eventually plays out.

[soonerBAS]

Every post season tournament expansion has never been about finding the best team. Baseball plays 166ish games. Do we really need to have a 10 team tournament? NBA almost half the teams make it after playing 82 games.

I agree with this playoff expansion is needed not so much to find the best team but to help cure the joke that bowl season is becoming, teams might actually care, players might not opt out in large numbers if you get more teams involved, create more excitement in more fan bases and bring in some money. I think too that the players should come in for some of the added revenue.

[RockFlagandEagle]

I agree with this playoff expansion is needed not so much to find the best team but to help cure the joke that bowl season is becoming, teams might actually care, players might not opt out in large numbers if you get more teams involved, create more excitement in more fan bases and bring in some money. I think too that the players should come in for some of the added revenue.

Due to the scheduling inbalances, it makes most sense in this sport. And I hate that because I've always loved the college football regular season. Games mean so much more and I don't want to lose that feeling but know it's inevitable and, like you say, may be the boost needed to to weather all those other factors.

[OrangeBeachBum68]

I think expansion will eventually happen, the other conference commishes are just butt hurt right now because they got schooled and outmanuevered by Sankey/SEC. The laws of economics will eventually kick in and I think we will go to 12. In the meantime, the rest of the country will just have to continue to likely put up with two SEC teams making up half the field.

[BirtDurglar]

Good! Fuck expansion! Hell…. 4 teams is already too many!

This is the correct answer.

[BirtDurglar]

Ya know what, I'm sort've with this. What we've seen so far, should tell us that expansion is not necessary to find the best team.

We arent trying to find the "best team" That can change from week to week. We are trying to determine which team most deserves to go down in history as the national champion for that season.

[SoonernVolved]

One has to wonder if the ACC did this as revenge for the crap deal that ESPN gave them,(or have them break it & renegotiate it)?

College Football Playoff

ESPN pays the CFP $470 million annually in a deal that runs through 2025-26. Figures from the 2019-20 season show that each of the Power 5 leagues received a baseline $67 million; the other five FBS conferences shared $92 million. That $470 million is with a four-team playoff; playoff expansion is expected to easily triple (and come close to quadrupling) that amount.

—-

ACC

The league’s 20-year top-tier deal with ESPN runs through 2036. It pays about $240 million annually, meaning each of the 14 schools gets about $17 million.

https://www.on3.com/news/conference-...lege-football/

[tenaciOUs b]

One has to wonder if the ACC did this as revenge for the crap deal that ESPN gave them,(or have them break it & renegotiate it)?

College Football Playoff

ESPN pays the CFP $470 million annually in a deal that runs through 2025-26. Figures from the 2019-20 season show that each of the Power 5 leagues received a baseline $67 million; the other five FBS conferences shared $92 million. That $470 million is with a four-team playoff; playoff expansion is expected to easily triple (and come close to quadrupling) that amount.

—-

ACC

The league’s 20-year top-tier deal with ESPN runs through 2036. It pays about $240 million annually, meaning each of the 14 schools gets about $17 million.

https://www.on3.com/news/conference-...lege-football/

I seem to recall from previous DB posts that if playoff expansion happens prior to the end of the ESPN contract that ESPN would have the only bidding rights which would likely involve an extension. By waiting, there could be a very lucrative bidding war.

[eightisgreat]

A four-person sub-group of the CFP management committee announced in June that it has developed a 12-team format. That format would allow the top six conference champions to earn berths regardless of which conference they're in. The remaining six spots would be at-large bids as determined by the CFP selection committee. First-round games would have been played on the campus of the higher-seeded team two weeks after conference championship games, and quarterfinal matchups would have taken place on Jan. 1 or 2. The top four seeds would have received byes in the proposed format.

POINT 1: Top 6 conference champions determined by? A swing and a miss. Select which conferences will have auto-berth and leave it up to each conference to determine which team represents them.
POINT 2: Nah, I don't think so. Strike two. Remaining 6 teams to be selected by BCS system.
POINT 3: They got one right.
POINT 4: Absolutely not. There is no good reason to ever give the most dominant teams even more of an advantage. Steeeeeeerike three, they're out!!

I am at least glad they are being pretty transparent about wanting to get 6 SEC teams in the playoff though. It would appear college presidents and AD's across the nation aren't going to let this happen.

Max. 8 teams. P5 champs go (and those conferences decide who they want to send). 3 at-large, highest ranked BCS teams, from any other conferences other than P5. Better yet, select 5 or 6 meaningless bowls and take the highest-ranked or CFP selected winner and give them one of the 8 spots, leaving 2 at-large. Everyone would benefit having a Cinderella in there - see March Madness.

[eightisgreat]

Ya know what, I'm sort've with this. What we've seen so far, should tell us that expansion is not necessary to find the best team.

What's the point of having the playoff at all then? Just give it to Bama or the greatest flavor of the times at the end of the regular season. That is what college football has come down to. What would be wrong with 7 other teams having the possibility to knock them out. Who knows, maybe their QB gets injured in a game? Play the games and let the chips fall where they may.

That would be a hell of a lot more entertaining than knowing who is going to win, I mean shit, we all have a pretty good idea of who that is at the beginning of the season. Hell, why play a regular-season at all?

I'll tell you why, money. The more MEANINGFUL games the better, and the better chance for #1 to get knocked to their knees the better. Better for the fanbase of college football, better for the TV companies.

I bet you guys hate March Madness don't you?

[Middle Aged Man]

What's the point of having the playoff at all then? Just give it to Bama or the greatest flavor of the times at the end of the regular season. That is what college football has come down to. What would be wrong with 7 other teams having the possibility to knock them out. Who knows, maybe their QB gets injured in a game? Play the games and let the chips fall where they may.

That would be a hell of a lot more entertaining than knowing who is going to win, I mean shit, we all have a pretty good idea of who that is at the beginning of the season. Hell, why play a regular-season at all?

I'll tell you why, money. The more MEANINGFUL games the better, and the better chance for #1 to get knocked to their knees the better. Better for the fanbase of college football, better for the TV companies.

I bet you guys hate March Madness don't you?

This is what we came from prior to the bcs. It was given. To who voters thought was the best team. I am beginning to think that was a better system for college football as a whole.

[Hermit]

What's the point of having the playoff at all then? Just give it to Bama or the greatest flavor of the times at the end of the regular season. That is what college football has come down to. What would be wrong with 7 other teams having the possibility to knock them out. Who knows, maybe their QB gets injured in a game? Play the games and let the chips fall where they may.

That would be a hell of a lot more entertaining than knowing who is going to win, I mean shit, we all have a pretty good idea of who that is at the beginning of the season. Hell, why play a regular-season at all?

I'll tell you why, money. The more MEANINGFUL games the better, and the better chance for #1 to get knocked to their knees the better. Better for the fanbase of college football, better for the TV companies.

I bet you guys hate March Madness don't you?

If your only hope of winning , is wishing for injury, you're in a sad place.

And yeah, CFB has never had much parity. That's not exactly breaking news.

Mo money, mo money , mo money ..............

And you're right, I quit giving a shit about march madness quite a few years ago. I guess you still go through the futile ritual of filling out a bracket.

[lash]

Without CFP expansion, the OU-TX move to the SEC doesn't make sense.

[soonergrad]

POINT 1: Top 6 conference champions determined by? A swing and a miss. Select which conferences will have auto-berth and leave it up to each conference to determine which team represents them.
POINT 2: Nah, I don't think so. Strike two. Remaining 6 teams to be selected by BCS system.
POINT 3: They got one right.
POINT 4: Absolutely not. There is no good reason to ever give the most dominant teams even more of an advantage. Steeeeeeerike three, they're out!!

I am at least glad they are being pretty transparent about wanting to get 6 SEC teams in the playoff though. It would appear college presidents and AD's across the nation aren't going to let this happen.

Max. 8 teams. P5 champs go (and those conferences decide who they want to send). 3 at-large, highest ranked BCS teams, from any other conferences other than P5. Better yet, select 5 or 6 meaningless bowls and take the highest-ranked or CFP selected winner and give them one of the 8 spots, leaving 2 at-large. Everyone would benefit having a Cinderella in there - see March Madness.

SEC is NEVER going to agree to this and as a member of the SEC, OU should NOT want the SEC to ever support this.

[soonergrad]

Without CFP expansion, the OU-TX move to the SEC doesn't make sense.

OU and Texas aren't going to the SEC to make the playoffs, they are going for the MINIMUM payout of $60 million per year.

[Section31]

OU and Texas aren't going to the SEC to make the playoffs, they are going for the MINIMUM payout of $60 million per year.

Yeah, I'm not sure why people can't understand this. BTW, if not for NIL, they probably wouldn't make the move. There's ZERO doubt some of the revenue schools have been seeing will be diverted to NIL for players. OU/Texas (and anyone with a brain) knows this. Getting a guaranteed payout is the only way athletic departments will survive in this ridiculous new era.

[IKE93]

Still can’t understand why some are against a 16 team playoff.. better games will be played and cupcakes eliminated from the schedule
BOOMER!

[Sooner5030]

the exclusiveness of the 4 team playoff has only made parity worse in CFB.

Sure people will say that only 3-4 teams even deserve to be there in any given year. But that's just looking at it one year at a time.

Im not sure expansion can reverse the recruiting feedback loop created by the CFP at this point. I hope so

CFB is becoming Nascar or F1. The only reason I still watch is bc I am a fan and alum of one of the "haves". Otherwise it's a shit product with very little excitement knowing Bama, Clemson, and a sprinkle of tOSU, UGA, OU, & ND will play in the CFP every year.

[RockFlagandEagle]

Still can’t understand why some are against a 16 team playoff.. better games will be played and cupcakes eliminated from the schedule
BOOMER!

Watch...I can do the opposite. Teams will schedule more cupcakes and/or treat the non-conference like NFL preseason games.

[eightisgreat]

SEC is NEVER going to agree to this and as a member of the SEC, OU should NOT want the SEC to ever support this.

Oh, I know that. I am simply pontificating on what would make the college football season a lot more fun for a lot more fan bases outside the SEC. Hopefully, the rest of the nation won't ever support what the SEC is trying to sell either - regardless of OU's position in that conference.

The SEC has already managed to get all-SEC national championship games, best that this is as far as they go. Why expand the playoff if the result will be all-SEC championship game? Now the obvious answer is that some other conferences will get some of the money if expansion happens and sadly this why expansion will probably happen on SEC's terms - no other reason.

[IKE93]

Watch...I can do the opposite. Teams will schedule more cupcakes and/or treat the non-conference like NFL preseason games.

16 team playoff will eliminate the cupcake non-conference games.. early season matchups like Bama vs Oregon would end up being first or second round playoff games
BOOMER!

[RockFlagandEagle]

16 team playoff will eliminate the cupcake non-conference games.. early season matchups like Bama vs Oregon would end up being first or second round playoff games
BOOMER!

So you want conference games only? No OOC at all? If not, explain how a post season tournament will eliminate the cupcake games.