Kevin Warren explains decision to vote against playoff expansion

Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference Kevin Warren explained the decision to vote against College Football Playoff expansion. On Friday, Warren commented on the controversial news.

“To be very clear, the Big Ten Conference supports expansion of the College Football Playoff system — for our student-athletes, member institutions and fans,” started Warren, via Ralph D. Russo of The AP. “Expansion provides increased opportunities, exposure and value for our member institutions, student-athletes, coaches, football teams and athletic programs.

“I trust that we will continue to collectively address the unresolved matters and move forward with expansion for the greater good of college football.”

Many moans and groans were released when the committee revealed their decision. To illustrate, after a virtual Board of Managers meeting this week, the College Football Playoff committee announced it’s keeping the four-team format through the 2025 season. That means the format stays through the end of the CFP’s contract with ESPN, which ends in 2025.

Evidently, Kevin Warren may be looking towards a different result in the future. Now, the Big Ten and the collective college football world will continue to wait for the long sought-after expansion of the College Football Playoff.

More on College Football Playoff expansion decision

Furthermore, the focus is on deciding on a new format for 2026, according to CFP executive director Bill Hancock.

“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,” Hancock said in a statement Friday. “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.

“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.

“I thank the working group for its hard work that resulted in the 12-team proposal, and the Management Committee for its thorough and diligent job reviewing it and other possible expansion ideas. This has been a long, careful, and detailed process that involved many people considering a complex matter. I am grateful to everyone for their dedication to college football and the detailed and deliberative effort everyone put into the consideration of a different format. I know the four-team event will continue to be successful.”