Luke Fickell believes expanded CFP field will benefit college football

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell is a proponent of the expanded College Football Playoff coming this season.

The CFP made the jump from four to 12 teams and could provide more possibilities for the postseason. For those who think it’s a bit like the NFL, well, in a way you’re right. It’s a layered conversation, but ultimately Fickell is on the side of positivity when it comes to an expanded playoff.

“There’s a lot of different thoughts, to be honest with you,” Fickell said on The Jim Rome Show. “It rolls through your head. But I think, by what has happened, obviously, in the Big Ten and what you’re seeing a little bit with the playoff system? I think it’s going to be a really, really good thing for college football. 

“I think we’re going to get back to, you know, even doing some out-of-league games that are going to mean something and challenge guys in different ways to find out where you are early in the year and not be overly worried about, you know, not being perfect.”

If you get closer to a pro model, some might say that’s not good for the college game. However, Fickell believes in the power of the expanded playoff when it comes to the hope of winning it all.

Heck, Fickell and Wisconsin could be in a position where they host a playoff game on campus in the first round.

“We want to get a little bit closer and all that I hear about is towards that somewhat of an NFL model where, late in the year, there’s so many games that are really important and the winning or losing of those games matter so much more other than just the pride of programs, making a bowl game, getting to a better bowl game but truly having an opportunity to get yourself into position to play for a championship and get into that playoff system,” Fickell said. 

“I think that that’s the great thing about where college football is heading. I know there’s a lot of new things and different things but that, to me, is what makes college football so special.”

Sometimes the sport has to embrace what’s new and the 12-team bracket is very new. Looking at projections for teams that get in with wildcards behind the conference champions, it looks dynamite.

Fickell is on board and there may come a point where everyone hops on the hype train and the playoff takes off.