College Football Playoff Expansion or Explosion? Why the Big Ten's 24-Team Playoff Plan Is a Disaster

First and 16 Podcast - Big 12 College Football and College Basketball · Feb 13, 2026 · 1m

College football is on the brink of another massive change — and not necessarily for the better. With the Big Ten Conference pushing momentum toward an expanded 24-team postseason format following the shift to the 12-team College Football Playoff model, we ask the hard question: is bigger really better? In this episode, we break down what a 24-team playoff could look like, how automatic bids might reshape conference power, and why expansion risks watering down the regular season — the very thing that makes college football special. We also examine the growing influence of superconferences and…