The debate over expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams is intensifying. Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea told OutKick that tradition must be sacrificed for the sport to evolve.
"We're going to have to let go of some traditional end of the year elements in college football," Lea said, specifically pointing to conference championship games as likely casualties. The SEC has pushed for a 16-team field, while the Big Ten wants 24 teams.
The financial stakes are enormous. With the CFP's new six-year ESPN contract now in place, expanding to 14 or 16 teams could keep ESPN in control of inventory. A jump to 24 teams would open the door for networks like FOX, NBC, or CBS to bid on additional games.
Lea emphasized the need to address season length and the impact on the quality of play. "How do we improve the product, tighten the season?" he asked, noting that the current schedule extends too far into January and conflicts with the NFL.
Expansion could also eliminate conference title games, which currently generate over $160 million combined for ESPN and FOX. One proposal would replace them with conference-specific play-in games, providing a more compelling product for fans and advertisers.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey remains a vocal proponent of a 16-team format, but some of his own coaches are now voicing support for the larger field.