Governor Ron DeSantis and fans blast "short-sighted" decision to expand CFP to 24 teams
In case you missed it, the College Football Playoff will consist of 24 teams, starting in 2027. This has been rumored for quite some time and has been heavily debated this season, with many prominent voices, such as Tim Tebow disagreeing with the move. After the announcement was made Monday, Governor Ron DeSantis made his disapproval known.
Many have argued, myself included, that the expansion from 12 teams to 24 would ruin one of the best aspects of college football. This is something that sets it apart from the NFL.
Every single game matters.
The way college football has been structured has made regular season games matter. A decade ago, every week you watched, you knew that one loss could ruin your team's chances at a National Championship. Two could mean the nail in the coffin. Not any more. Even this season, we could see multiple 3-loss teams make the 12-team CFP. The regular season is already on the slippery slope of being incredibly devalued.
Others have claimed this move was more of a financial one, rather than what is best for the game. DeSantis agrees.
DeSantis posted on X Monday morning calling the decision, "A short-sighted move that might bolster profits in the near term but will further erode what has traditionally made college football special."
In December 2025, DeSantis posted, in response to Ole Miss shellacking Tulane in the first round of the CFP, "From the playoff selection to the transfer portal/NIL issues to bad timing on deadlines to the viability of bowl games, college football clearly needs an overhaul."
The Florida governor's stances are echoed by many fans, as well as other politicians, who are concerned about the future of the sport.
Congressman Chip Roy posted on X Monday saying, "Putting money over what makes the game great. Next step on the road to hell will be selling the marketing rights to sports gambling…"
As I said on X, "It ruins the weight of regular season games, making it too much like the NFL, kills conference title games, and bowl games might as well be eliminated altogether..."
I also asked college football fans what they thought about the announcement.
One fan said we might as well go back to the old format, saying, "Yeah, I'd much rather a random committee just stick their number 1 and 2 ranked teams together and call it a day."
Another stated, "24 is too many. After about No. 19, teams are nearly indistinguishable. Make it 16 with 8 campus games and you get the best of both."
"Very bad for the sport, very sad decisions. Bowl games are what make the holidays fun. Corporate kills America," a fan said.
This also marks the end of the biggest conference championship games as we know it.
The ACC announced, "The 2026 ACC Football Championship Game marks the final annual championship game for the Conference as the CFP moves to a 24-team format."
"The SEC Football Championship Game has been a defining event in college football for more than three decades, producing unforgettable moments and crowning legendary champions," said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. "What began with the vision and leadership of Commissioner Roy Kramer in 1992 helped reshape the landscape of college football and established a tradition that has endured for 35 years. As the sport evolves with an expanded College Football Playoff, we look forward to celebrating the remarkable legacy of this event with its 35th and final edition and recognizing the city of Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and AMB Sports and Entertainment, and the many partners who have contributed to its success"
BIG TEN CONFERENCE COMMISSIONER GIVES TONE DEAF STATEMENT ABOUT 24-TEAM COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
"As we look ahead to a new College Football Playoff format, the Big Ten Conference is deeply grateful to the City of Indianapolis, the Indiana Sports Corp, Lucas Oil Stadium and the hundreds of thousands of fans who helped make the Big Ten Football Championship Game a marquee event each season since its inception in 2011," said Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti in a statement Monday. "We look forward to our final Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game on Dec. 5 and maintaining our strong relationship with Indianapolis as we host future Big Ten championships across our sports portfolio in the city."
Finally, the Big 12 said, "For more than two decades, the Big 12 Football Championship has been a defining moment on the Conference calendar, bringing together the league’s best with championships, postseason opportunities and national implications on the line. This December, the Big 12 will celebrate that legacy with its 25th and final Championship Game, kicking off at 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Dec. 4 on ABC from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas."
This move completely eliminates the Power 4 conference championship games, which also seems to solidify DeSantis' point about tradition.
It's a seismic decision that is also low-hanging fruit to claim that Disney has ruined yet another beloved entity.