The landscape of college football's postseason has undergone significant transformations over the years. Starting with the Bowl Championship Series in 1988, evolving into the 4-team College Football Playoff in 2014, and now embracing a 12-team format since 2024, the changes have kept fans on their toes.
Yet, discussions around further expansion are already heating up. Some conference commissioners are eyeing a 16-team format, while others are pushing for a 24-team playoff that could potentially eliminate conference championship games.
David Pollack, a former Georgia standout and ex-ESPN analyst, recently shared his thoughts on this evolving playoff landscape during an appearance on Greg McElroy’s “Always College Football” podcast. Pollack didn't hold back, expressing a clear vision for the future of college football's postseason.
Pollack is a strong advocate for scrapping conference championship games, suggesting they no longer serve the purpose they once did. "Let’s move on from conference championships," Pollack remarked, emphasizing that playing in these games shouldn't feel like a penalty, especially for teams in powerhouse conferences like the SEC.
His passion for the game shone through as he called for more College Football Playoff contests to be held on campus sites. "I want to see home games.
Neutral sites aren’t that great," he argued. The energy and excitement of games played at home stadiums, with fans rallying behind their teams, create an atmosphere that's hard to replicate elsewhere.
Pollack also touched on the inclusion of Group of Five teams in the playoffs, expressing skepticism about their competitiveness on the big stage. He suggested that these teams often struggle to keep up, making it challenging for them to pose a real threat in the playoff picture.
As college football continues to evolve, voices like Pollack's add a layer of depth to the ongoing conversation about how best to shape the future of the sport. Whether it's expanding the playoff field or reimagining where and how these crucial games are played, the dialogue is far from over.