Paul Finebaum shares how expanded College Football Playoff will change the sport

Paul Finebaum shared how the College Football Playoff expansion would change the sport in 2024, and it looks more like an NFL model.

The 12-team playoff triples the bracket from its current four-team format. With that comes bigger expectations for big name schools. As in, if you don’t make the playoff, what exactly are you doing and can you qualify that as a successful season.

But on the other hand, it gives other teams a chance late in the season to compete for the College Football Playoff.

“It will change the perception dramatically,” Finebaum told Matt Barrie on ESPN’s YouTube channel. “Not 100% sure how, but the line gets changed. Right now, what do we talk about once the season starts? Who’s in, who’s out? That’s gonna be a tough SportsCenter question, Matt. In October of 2024, who’s your top 12? I mean, it’s too long. So then it becomes if you didn’t make the playoff? What does that mean? 

“It used to be bowl eligible and were you in the running for your conference championship and now I think if you’re if you’re name brand, if you’re Clemson or Southern Cal or Ohio State or Alabama and you don’t make the playoffs, that’s really a bad year. Forget losing in the (College Football Playoff) semi finals.”

College Football Playoff expansion to change the sport

Finebaum alluded to the NFL model which causes late season games to stay important. There’s already plenty of those during a regular college football season, but with more spots on the line and seeding scenarios aplenty, the expanded playoff could increase intrigue for more teams.

“So perceptions start to change,” Finebaum said, “I think it makes certain games, maybe early in the year, less important. I don’t think it makes games late in the year less important and some people fear because here we go, I’m going to use the NFL model.

“We do care about games to help determine whether you’re in the playoffs, whether you avoid a bye or whether you get home field. I think that narrative is going to come to college football very quickly.”

The College Football Playoff initially approved its plans to expand from four teams to 12 by 2026, but the timeline was sped up after the Rose Bowl signed an agreement to allow for early expansion. The Rose Bowl committee wanted to keep its 5 p.m. ET time slot on New Year’s Day, but ultimately signed the deal to pave the way for the new format starting with the 2024-25 season.

Even with the new format, there will still be College Football Playoff games played on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, and the national championship will still take place on a Monday.