Tony Petitti addresses what success looks like for Big Ten with the expanded College Football Playoff

The College Football Playoff expanding to a dozen teams has provided more interest and access nationwide. That includes those in the Big Ten with Commissioner Tony Petitti loving how many of his teams can be in the running toward season’s end.

Pettiti discussed the impact of the expanded playoff on his conference during his time at the podium last week at Big Ten Media Days from Indianapolis. Simply put, he is glad more of his schools will have a chance at the postseason and a national title. That should also affect the regular season with more programs playing to try and make it in.

“The first thing I’ll say is, when I think about the postseason, I always start with the regular season. I want the regular season to have as many games as late as possible that are impactful,” said Pettiti. “We want as many teams competing as late in the season to earn a spot in the playoff. I think that’s the goal. I think, if you think about the way postseasons work, they work in tandem with regular seasons.”

“What I’m excited about is that the fact that we’ve expanded the playoff which gives more teams in the Big Ten the opportunity to compete later in the season. That’s better on-site, on-campus in terms of the excitement. It brings more programs into the hunt and that’s what fans want. Fans want their teams to be alive as late as possible. That’s all you can hope for.”

Expanding the playoff has had this same overall effect across the country.

Still, for this example, just look at the Big Ten. Over the decade of the four-team field, only three programs ever made it from out of their league. Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State all did before with only the Buckeyes or Wolverines over the last eight years. That number will now technically improve to five with the additions of Washington and Oregon.

Now, take that 10-year sample and expand the playoff to the 12 team that it will be now. Once you do that, Iowa, Penn State, Wisconsin, USC, and Indiana would all have at least berth. Most of those would actually have several after adding it up. That’s not to mention other programs who finished at No. 13 through No. 25 who would have been in contention over the course of the season.

Petitti certainly wants as many contenders as possible for the Big Ten. However, overall success and interest by the end of the fall is just as acceptable for him in this new format.

“I’ve been pretty outspoken about the fact that we really want that regular season to work and connect to our postseason,” said Petitti. “To get through a Big Ten regular season is not easy. Being able to earn that based on your conference play and your record I think is a really critical part of what the playoffs should be.”

“I think this format will allow us to do it,” Pettiti said. “We’ll see how it operates this year.”