Is bigger always better in sports? That's the million-dollar question hovering over leagues as they expand their seasons and playoff formats.
With the NFL now playing 17 games, the NBA introducing a play-in tournament, and MLB adding extra wild-card rounds, it's clear that in many cases, more doesn't necessarily equate to better. We're all in for more college football, but does the College Football Playoff really need 16 teams?
Even a 12-team playoff seems like a stretch when you consider the toll it takes on college athletes. Sure, the allure of more games can lead to larger audiences and more ticker tape, but how often do those lower seeds in expanded formats truly contend for a title?
The expansion of the College Football Playoff sure makes financial sense, especially when you consider a charismatic brand like Ohio State driving ratings through the roof. You could air a Buckeyes game at the crack of dawn, surrounded by shadowy cornfields, and the viewership would still soar.
The powers that be clearly had a field day when Ohio State stormed through the inaugural 12-team playoff, racking up massive ratings for each of ESPN's broadcasts. That success only fuels ambitions to keep adding more playoff games, despite what happens on the field.
It's hard to argue that more college football isn't a crowd-pleaser, but let's not kid ourselves about the quality of those early playoff rounds. Take a look at the first round of the freshly minted 12-team playoff: the narrowest victory was Notre Dame's 27-17 win over Indiana, a game that was never as competitive as the score might suggest.
Out of 11 total playoff matchups last season, only two were nail-biters decided by single digits. Texas edged out Arizona State in a thrilling 39-31 overtime win, and Notre Dame marched on by toppling Penn State 27-24 for a title shot against Ohio State.
Beyond those games, the drama wasn't exactly off the charts.
An eight-team playoff might just be the golden ticket for college football, focusing on quality rather than quantity. Picture this: conference champions from the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12, the top Group of Five school, plus three at-large bids—all vying for the crown in knockout-style battles.
No first-round byes, just electrifying matchups from start to finish. Granted, this setup would wave goodbye to on-campus first-round clashes due to the CFP's bowl game commitments, but the trade-off could mean more thrilling contests.
You're probably asking, "What about teams like Ohio State potentially missing out?" With a larger playoff pool, the stakes of the Buckeyes' contest with Michigan might not loom as large.
Yet, with last season's expanded field, Ohio State's loss to the Wolverines meant less when they claimed the national title. Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day likely slept easier, knowing that a playoff expansion eased the sting of losing four consecutive matches to Michigan while still clinching playoff glory.
Even if we were to stretch the playoff format out to 100 teams, debates would ensue over who just missed the cut. At some point, enough is enough.
Consider the giants like Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State—they don't need extra competition from the fourth or fifth-place teams in their conferences. Last season, the Illini made some noise about being playoff-worthy, but realistically, could they have shaken up the postseason scene?
Despite my love of endless sports action, a smaller playoff could lead to a more engaging experience on the field. Plus, wouldn't it be nostalgic to bring the college football season to a close around New Year's Day, rather than get upstaged by NFL playoffs in mid-January?
Football's grueling nature, coupled with season-long wear and tear, exacerbates the injury risks come playoff time. Last postseason, teams like Georgia, Notre Dame, and Ohio State were hobbling into critical matches with star players on the sidelines due to injury. While injuries aren't unique to expanded playoffs, the likelihood increases as the season stretches on.
At this juncture, sports may be thriving on bigness and boldness, but a bit of moderation concerning playoff expansions could preserve the essence of the championship grind. Otherwise, we might find ourselves yearning for the thrill and competitiveness that a slightly smaller playoff field could bring, rather than watered-down schedules that fail to deliver on the promise of postseason magic.
