The College Football Playoffs began in 2014 with the format being the top four teams in the country face off for one team to eventually be named a national champion. This season, the CFP changed their format from four to 12 teams, and like all other changes after the first year, the question is being asked; Was adding more teams the right move? 

According to NCAA.com, in December of 2022, the idea of expanding from four to 12 teams was accepted and planned to begin in the 2024 season. 

Similar to the prior format,, the AP Poll committee were the ones in charge of selecting the 12 teams. The top four seeds were reserved for conference champions and received a first-round bye. 

NCAA.com also listed the starting date of the tournament in December,, starting on Dec. 20, and ending on Jan. 20. But was the change effective and worth it?

Reuters.com reported on Jan. 15, that viewership was down 17 percent in the first year from four to 12 teams.

By expanding the amount of teams taking place, you allow “smaller” schools to be put into the conversation, eliminating some arguments saying the CFP always has the same four teams each year. 

This new format opened a new debate topic as well, which is that the Southeastern Conference was widely considered the hardest and best conference in all Division I football. However, after the Pacific 12 Conference was split up and a dozen programs were moved to different conferences, the Big 10 Conference is now being put into an argument that it is the best conference in all of Division I college football. 

In the new CFP format, they have a strong case with the Big 10 teams making it farther than any SEC school, including Ohio State defeating three SEC schools to get to the national championship (Tennessee, Oregon and Texas). 

In my opinion, this was something that needed to happen sooner, despite the ratings and new arguments telling another story. 

The first round games were not as exciting and all ended in two-plus score victory margins. However, after that, things began to heat up and get more exciting. But that all comes down to a matchup disadvantage, not the new format. 

That also included the top four seeds being knocked out in the second round allowing for the winner to not be a one through four seed. 

To an extent, this relates well with March Madness. An event where the top 64 men’s basketball teams in the country face off to declare a winner in a tournament. So, if one of the most popular sporting events, according to nycsportsnation.com, in the calendar year is loved, why can’t a 12-team CFP tournament be accepted?

To me, as an avid viewer of college sports, but mostly college football, I enjoy extending the exciting event of a national championship and allowing the season to be expanded in a sense.