The College Football Playoff is moving toward a dramatic overhaul, and Baylor could be one of the schools that benefits most from it.
Pete Thamel reported that the playoff is nearing an agreement to expand from 12 teams to 24 for the 2027 season, a change that would reshape not just the postseason but the way the regular season feels from week to week. The idea carries an obvious upside for programs like Baylor and the Big 12: more access, more chances, and a wider path into the field.
But the tradeoff is just as clear. A 24-team bracket could dilute the weight of the regular season across the sport, turning games that once carried real elimination pressure into something closer to setup for what comes next. That’s the uneasy part of this kind of expansion, and it’s hard to ignore.
The reporting points to a system that could be finalized in the near future, pending approvals. If the format had been in place since the CFP began in 2014, the number of teams getting in would have ballooned to 80 by now.
Alabama and Ohio State would have been in every season. Clemson would have made 11 appearances, Notre Dame 10, Utah 8, and Baylor 4.
That Baylor number is where the conversation gets interesting. Under a 24-team setup, the Bears would have been in the mix far more often than they have been under previous formats. And if you go back to 2021, that 11-1 Big 12 champion Baylor team would have had its case tested in a postseason field that could have included it.
Still, the bigger question goes beyond one school or one season. A 24-team playoff could make room for more teams, but it could also blur the line between contender and pretender. First-round games could end up looking like rematches of conference title games, and some of those matchups would likely feel more like “conference championship game: round 2” than a fresh postseason stage.
There’s also the question of how the field would be selected. It’s not yet known whether the format would come with set requirements from each conference or operate as a true top-24 free-for-all. That uncertainty matters, because the difference between access and hierarchy could define how this thing works in practice.
And underneath all of it sits the real engine: money. More teams means more games, more media rights value, and more commercial inventory. Whether that produces a better playoff is another matter entirely.
For Baylor and some others, this could be a door opening wider. For college football itself, it may come at a cost.
In Other News...
TCU Offense Faces A Brutal Test Against Surging Baylor
The matchup at McLane Stadium on Oct. 17 comes with a built-in contrast: TCU arrives trying to find answers after an uneven start, while Baylor has put itself in position to keep moving up in the Big 12 race. The Bears are 4-1 overall and 2-0 in league play, and the Horned Frogs are 2-3 with an 0-2 conference mark, making this feel like a game where one team is trying to steady its season and the other is trying to protect the momentum it has built.
For TCU, the concern has been turning offense into actual production against Power Four competition, while Baylors edge has come from a more complete performance on both sides of the ball. The Bears have been efficient enough to stay in control of games and difficult enough on defense to keep opponents from settling in, which is why this trip to Waco looks like a real test for TCU and a chance for Baylor to keep its conference run intact. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Has A Real Chance To Pull Away From TCU Again
Baylor comes out of its bye week with a little momentum and a chance to make a meaningful statement at home against TCU. The Bears are fresh off a strong win, and the timing is useful with a rivalry game waiting at McLane Stadium, where Baylors offense has shown enough balance to create problems if it can keep the pressure on. Lagways recent play gives this matchup an interesting edge, especially against a TCU defense that has generally held up against the run.
The Horned Frogs do bring resistance on defense, and they have enough athleticism to make this more than a simple home-field spot for Baylor. Still, the bigger question is whether the Bears can turn opportunities into real separation in a game that could hinge on field position and efficiency near the goal line. If Baylor handles the details cleanly, it has a real chance to widen the gap again in the Big 12 race. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Faces Its First Real Big 12 Test Against TCU
Baylor reaches a point in the schedule where the margin for error starts to shrink, and the matchup with TCU is the kind of game that helps sort out whether a strong opening can turn into something more lasting. Week 7 brings a slate of Big 12 games with real weight around the league, but this one stands out for the Bears because it is the first test that feels like it can say plenty about where they belong in the conference race.
TCU gives Baylor an opponent that can expose any soft spots while also offering a chance to make a statement in a crowded league picture. The Bears have handled the early part of Big 12 play well enough to get attention, but this is the game that begins to show whether they can keep that footing when the competition tightens and the path ahead gets less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]