The College Football Playoff is about to get a lot bigger, and that shift could open the door wider for the Big 12.
The playoff started in the 2014-15 season with four teams, then grew to 12 teams in 2024. After the current 2026-27 season, it will jump again, this time to 24 teams. That means this is the third and final year of the 12-team setup.
For Arizona State, that change matters. The Sun Devils reached the 12-team CFP in the 2024-25 season, but they won’t be in it this year because they are 4-4. Under the 24-team model, though, the odds of seeing ASU and other Big 12 programs in the 2027-28 CFP rise dramatically.
That’s the basic appeal of the expansion: more access, more chances, more teams still alive late into the season. For schools in the Big 12, it could mean a much better path than the one they’ve had in a playoff structure that has often leaned toward the SEC.
The debate around that growth is hardly settled. Josh Pate didn’t hide where he stands.
"I hate the 24-team playoff," said Josh Pate, a college football analyst. "I hate all the reasons for it, both publicly stated and then the real reasons for it behind the scenes."
That kind of pushback comes from people who like the playoff to stay exclusive. The move from four teams to 24 in just 13 years is a big leap, and it’s one that has plenty of fans and analysts uneasy.
Dan Patrick framed the motivation in even plainer terms.
"It’s all about money," said Dan Patrick, veteran sportscaster and host of The Dan Patrick Show. "This is why we’re here."
Still, the numbers suggest the Big 12 is positioned to benefit. After week 10, five Big 12 teams are in the AP Top 25: Utah at No. 3 with an 8-0 record, BYU at No. 7 at 7-1, Texas Tech at No. 13 at 7-1, Houston at No. 17 at 6-2 and Arizona at No. 24 at 6-2.
Under the current format, Utah, BYU and Texas Tech have the clearest paths into the CFP. In a 24-team field, all five would likely be in the mix.
That broader field also fits a season that has already produced unusual balance. Through eight games, only three of the top 25 teams remain undefeated, and even then, some teams with losses are ranked ahead of two of them because AP poll voters view their schedules as tougher.
For supporters of expansion, that kind of season strengthens the case. More teams, more access and more meaningful games would become part of the postseason landscape when the 24-team format arrives in 2028.
Whether people like it or not, the change is coming. And for Big 12 fans, that means the odds of chasing a national championship are about to look a lot better.
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