Push to Expand the College Football Playoff to 24 Teams

Discussions about enlarging the College Football Playoff (CFP) from its current 12-team format to 24 teams have intensified, with the new structure potentially debuting in 2027. No final agreement has been reached, and the CFP will retain the 12-team field for the 2026 season. Proponents argue that a larger field could increase access for programs outside the traditional power conferences, while critics warn it may diminish the regular season’s significance, raise player-safety concerns, and shift the balance of power toward the SEC and Big Ten.

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Oregon State head coach JaMarcus Shephard has positioned his Beavers as a case study for why expansion matters. The Beavers sit at 5-2 overall and 3-0 in Pac-12 play, having rebounded from early losses to rank-one opponents with five straight victories, scoring at least 48 points in each of their last three games. Shephard argues that a 24-team playoff would give schools like Oregon State a clearer path to the national stage, rather than relying on the automatic bid reserved for the highest-ranked team from six non-Power-Five conferences under the current system.

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• Oregon State record: 5-2 overall, 3-0 in Pac-12.

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• Quarterback Braden Atkinson (sophomore) leads a high-powered offense.

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• Freshman receiver Jesse Legree tops the FBS with 1,040 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns through seven games.

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• Four games remain: Fresno State, Texas State, Boise State, and Utah State.

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• “I really just worry about access,” — Miami Clash Shephard, state head coach

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