On Friday, the College Football Playoff committee announced there would be no expansion to the playoff field. After months of discussions surrounding a field that could expand to eight or even 12 teams, nothing came of it.
“The Board of Managers has accepted a recommendation from the Management Committee to continue the current four-team playoff for the next four years, as called for in the CFP’s original 12-year plan. At the same time, the Board expects the Management Committee to continue its discussions of a new format that would go into effect for the 2026-27 season,” the report stated.
“Even though the outcome did not lead to a recommendation for an early expansion before the end of the current 12-year contract, the discussions have been helpful and informative. I am sure they will serve as a useful guide for the Board of Managers and for the Management Committee as we determine what the Playoff will look like beginning in the 2026-2027 season.”
With the big question of who would benefit most from the expansion, we are left wanting more teams for a true playoff. At this point, it feels more like a College Football Invitational. There are arguments to be made for and against having more teams involved.
The negative impact of Friday’s decision has to do with the teams that have yet to make it to the annual tournament. The lower tier teams at the Power Five level. Not to mention the Group of Five, although Cincinnati finally broke through in 2021.
Here are the top teams that will be impacted most by this decision.