Could More On-Campus College Football Playoff Games Be Coming? Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark Weighs In
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - As the College Football Playoff continues to evolve, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is keeping the door open for a format shift that fans and programs alike have been buzzing about: more on-campus playoff games. It’s an idea that blends the energy of college football’s most electric environments with the high-stakes drama of postseason play - and Yormark isn’t ruling it out.
Speaking ahead of the Orange Bowl matchup between Oregon (representing the Big Ten) and Texas Tech (of the Big 12), Yormark acknowledged the logistical challenges but emphasized the unique atmosphere that on-campus games bring to the table.
“The first-round games have been fantastic in every respect,” Yormark said. “And I think it’s a differentiator for us. When you think about the NFL, the pageantry just being on campus - I think it’s a difference maker.”
He’s not wrong. The first round of this year’s expanded CFP featured four on-campus games, a fresh wrinkle that injected new life into the postseason.
From the energy in the stadiums to the local pride on display, these games felt different - more personal, more passionate. But once the quarterfinals hit, the format shifted back to the traditional New Year’s Six bowl sites, and that’s where the conversation starts to get complicated.
Empty Seats, Long Flights, and a Question of Fan Experience
Despite the Orange Bowl being labeled a sellout, there were noticeable pockets of empty seats in Hard Rock Stadium for the early New Year’s Day kickoff. That’s not entirely surprising when you consider the travel involved.
Oregon fans had to make the cross-country trek from Eugene to Miami. Texas Tech supporters came in from West Texas.
And the winner of this game? They’ll be packing up and heading east again next week for a semifinal showdown in Atlanta at the Peach Bowl.
That’s a lot of miles - and a lot of money - for fanbases to follow their teams in back-to-back weeks. And it’s part of the reason why some in the sport are starting to ask: Should higher-seeded teams host deeper into the playoff?
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning didn’t mince words. “In my opinion, this game should be played at Texas Tech,” he said last week. “The higher-seeded team, there should be a home-field advantage for them.”
It’s a sentiment that’s gaining traction. After all, what’s the point of earning a top-four seed if it doesn’t come with the kind of tangible advantage you’d expect - like playing in front of your home crowd?
What’s Next for the CFP Format?
The CFP management committee - made up of the 10 FBS conference commissioners plus Notre Dame’s athletic director - is in the thick of discussions about what the playoff will look like moving forward. A 16-team format is on the table for as soon as next season, which would mean four more at-large bids added to the current structure. That idea has support from the SEC.
But the Big Ten? They’re not stopping there. They want to keep the door open for a 24-team format, though pulling that off would likely require at least another year of runway before it could be implemented.
Yormark didn’t tip his hand on which model he prefers, but he did make one thing clear: whatever format they land on, he wants it to stick.
“One person’s opinion is, I think wherever we settle now is something that we should play out for the foreseeable future, because you need to get some rhythm behind it,” he said.
That rhythm - consistency in structure, scheduling, and fan expectations - is something the CFP hasn’t really had since its inception. Between expansion talks, bowl tie-ins, and shifting television contracts, the landscape has been in a near-constant state of flux.
The Bowl Games Still Matter - For Now
While there’s momentum behind the idea of more home games, the New Year’s Six bowls aren’t going anywhere just yet. The CFP hasn’t officially extended its agreements with the Orange, Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, Cotton, and Peach bowls for the upcoming six-year deal with ESPN, but that’s expected to happen.
Yormark praised the bowls for the experiences they’ve created and the partnerships they’ve built with the conferences.
“The New Year’s Six bowls have been fantastic, great partners, and they put on an incredible experience, as they have here in town with the Orange Bowl,” he said. “So we’ll see. Everything’s on the table, and hopefully we’ll be very thoughtful about it.”
Decision Time Is Looming
The clock is ticking. The CFP committee has until January 23 to inform ESPN of the format for next season. That gives just a few weeks to finalize a decision that could reshape the future of college football’s postseason.
There’s no perfect answer. On-campus games offer unmatched intensity and reward higher seeds, but they come with logistical hurdles - from stadium capacity to travel and weather. Neutral-site bowls offer tradition and infrastructure, but sometimes lack the energy and accessibility fans crave.
What’s clear is that the playoff is evolving. And if Yormark’s comments are any indication, the future of college football might look a lot more like the regular season - loud, local, and lived out on campus.