Chris Del Conte Pushes for Expanded CFP, Premium Scheduling, and Premium Seating at Texas
Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte isn’t looking backward. Not publicly, anyway.
Less than two months after the Longhorns landed just outside the College Football Playoff field-despite a résumé stacked with top-10 wins-Del Conte is already focused on the future. And for him, that future includes an expanded playoff, not just for the sake of fairness, but to preserve something he values deeply: the integrity of the regular season.
Speaking during his annual town hall on Wednesday night, Del Conte made it clear-he’s not interested in softening Texas’ schedule to game the current playoff system. In fact, he wants the opposite.
He wants more big games, not fewer. But he knows the current CFP format doesn’t always reward that.
The Case for Expansion: Margin for Error Matters
Here’s the issue Del Conte is trying to solve. Under the 12-team playoff format, now two years in, the selection committee has shown a clear preference: two losses or fewer, or you’re out.
That’s the bar. And while that might sound reasonable on paper, it creates a tough reality for programs that dare to schedule aggressively.
Take Texas in 2025. The Longhorns knocked off three teams ranked in the top 10 at the time they played them.
But with three total losses-one of them a road nonconference clash against defending national champion Ohio State-Texas was left out in the cold. Wins that should’ve boosted their case instead got lost in the noise of the loss column.
Del Conte’s concern is that this system unintentionally discourages marquee nonconference matchups. If the safest path to the playoff is to load up on easy wins and avoid risk, why schedule Ohio State or Michigan? His answer: expand the field, increase the margin for error, and let teams chase greatness without fear of being punished for it.
“We can play three cream puffs, and then we can play an SEC schedule,” Del Conte said. “But if the playoff is going to expand, which I prefer the playoff expands, you want to then have great games, and value those great games as long as we have the opportunity to get into the postseason.”
What Would Expansion Look Like?
Del Conte didn’t offer a specific number when it comes to how many teams should make the playoff. But he did draw a comparison that makes his thinking clear.
In the NFL, roughly 44% of teams make the postseason. In college football’s FBS, that number is closer to 9%.
That’s a massive gap-and one that doesn’t reflect the reality of how competitive and deep the college football landscape has become.
The current 12-team format will remain in place through 2026, but there’s already movement behind the scenes. The SEC is reportedly in favor of a 16-team playoff, while the Big Ten is pushing for a 24-team model. Del Conte’s comments suggest he’s open to expansion in general, especially if it means he can keep scheduling the kind of high-profile nonconference games that fans and players alike want to see.
Texas Isn’t Backing Down From Big Games
Since Del Conte took over in 2017 (excluding the pandemic year), Texas has played a ranked nonconference opponent every single season. That’s not by accident. It’s part of a deliberate strategy to challenge the program and elevate its national profile.
And that approach isn’t going anywhere.
Texas has home games lined up with both Ohio State and Michigan over the next two seasons-matchups Del Conte and head coach Steve Sarkisian have both said will go forward as planned. There’s also a home-and-home series with Notre Dame scheduled for 2028 and 2029, though neither Del Conte nor Sarkisian has publicly reaffirmed those games just yet.
“I prefer to preserve the regular season by playing great games and not dumbing down your schedule and playing nobody with the hopes that you can get in the playoff,” Del Conte said.
$10 Million Suites? Texas Is All In
Del Conte’s vision for Texas football isn’t just about what happens on the field. It extends to the fan experience-and the financial engine behind it.
As part of this offseason’s renovations to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, the university is making a major change: the press box is moving from the 50-yard line to the south end zone. In its place? Ten new luxury suites, each sold for a cool $10 million.
Why the move?
“Why would you create more suites? Well, you got to pay for an indoor (football practice) facility,” Del Conte said.
It’s a bold play, but one that underscores the scale of Texas’ ambitions. The Longhorns are investing heavily in infrastructure, and they’re betting that fans-and donors-will invest right back.
Season Tickets Going Up, But Prices Will Hold After
Along with the stadium upgrades comes a bump in season ticket prices. Del Conte announced a 7% increase for the upcoming season, noting that Texas will host one more home game than last year.
But there’s some stability baked in. That new price point will be frozen for the next three years, giving fans some cost certainty moving forward.
“I understand your investment,” Del Conte told fans. “I understand what this is, your economics. I’m looking at how we’re running the enterprise, and this is where we’re at.”
Bottom Line
Del Conte isn’t just talking about playoff formats or ticket prices-he’s laying out a vision for what Texas football can be in the next era of college football. One where the regular season still matters, big games are still played, and the best teams aren’t penalized for taking risks.
If the playoff expands, it won’t just be about more teams getting in. It’ll be about giving programs like Texas the freedom to chase greatness without having to game the system. And that’s a future Del Conte-and a lot of college football fans-would welcome.