Coach Heupel in favor of 24-team playoff format (per CBSSports)

[TrueOrange]

“A hypothetical 24-team College FootballPlayoff field, which was initially proposed by luminaries from the Big Ten, seems to be gaining steam. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel recently joined a growing list of coaches who have voiced their support for further postseason expansion. In an interview with On3's Chris Low, Heupel noted that he is in favor of a 24-team playoff.

"The way college football is constantly changing, that probably makes the most sense," Heupel said.

Heupel takes this position as a coach who has already made the 12-team College Football Playoff. His Vols made a run to the postseason tournament in 2024, though they lost their first-round game on the road against Ohio State.

They also came close to the CFP in 2022 after beating six ranked teams in the regular season. A late-season loss to South Carolina and an ACL tear suffered by Heisman Trophy-contending quarterback Hendon Hooker bounced Tennessee out of contention, however. The Vols still downed ACC champion Clemson in the Orange Bowl.

Heupel isn't the only prolific coach who has championed a 24-team playoff. Georgia's Kirby Smart, who has two national titles as a head coach in the playoff era, recently advocated for a larger playoff field.

"I think 24 teams is good for the fan bases," Smart said at the Steve Spurrier Awards show. "I think when coaches and ADs look at it, we're looking at our fan bases having an expectation that they want to be in the playoffs -- it's playoffs or bust."

The current 12-team format will continue through at least the 2026-27 season as college football's movers and shakers discuss the future of the playoff. While the Big Ten prefers 24 teams, the other power conferences -- including the SEC -- have thrown their weight behind a 16-team field that operates under a "5+11" format, wherein the five highest-ranked conference champions earn an automatic qualifier and the other 11 spots are reserved for at-large competitors.”

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel advocates for 24-team CFP proposal: 'That probably makes the most sense'

Coaches around the nation are voicing their support for further expansion, and Heupel is the latest to join the growing list

www.cbssports.com

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Of course coaches want expanded playoffs, both Kirby and Josh surely have "made the CFP" bonuses in their contracts.

 

[Voltopia]

"I think 24 teams is good for the fan bases," Smart said at the Steve Spurrier Awards show. "I think when coaches and ADs look at it, we're looking at our fan bases having an expectation that they want to be in the playoffs -- it's playoffs or bust."

This is nonsense, and worse, it's transparently nonsense. The thing about "our fans want to be in the playoffs" is true, because right now college football sports media is 125% focused on the CFP and ONLY the CFP. What's the only question each year? "Are you in?" That's it. That's the only thing the media hypes, and the only thing people talk about now. In or out? If you expand it to 24, you'll just water down the idea of "making the playoffs," and just getting in the CFP won't mean crap anymore. Then it'll be like basketball, where you have to make the Final Four to matter. Expanding won't fix the problem. Because the real problem is you took a sport that wasn't about a single tournament for a national champion for 100+ years, and then forced it into the same box as every other professional sport where the tournament champion wins the title. Except all the professional sports have 30-ish sports clubs, whereas college has HUNDREDS. And aaaaaall those fanbases that were okay with having good years instead of great years don't want to hear it anymore, because the focus isn't about having good years anymore. It's solely - SOLELY - about making ESPN's corporate-owned CFP, and to some extent, winning it. So now you have to be the one out of hundreds that wins. OR ELSE.

I get Spurrier's real goal here. And maybe it's all these coaches' goal. They wants to take some pressure off the coaching profession. They all think they expand the CFP then more coaches can say 'look we made the playoffs' so they don't lose their jobs for having just "okay" seasons. But that ain't happening. No one's falling for that. You're all part of this monster and this monster doesn't care about you unless you win.

Syndrome had it right. "When everyone's special for making the CFP, then no one is." You make it bigger, you only make it worse. Making the CFP 24 teams will only push the demand to "final four," and make the whole "we made the CFP" claim meaningless drivel (which it kind of already is).

 

[Delmar]

Of course coaches want expanded playoffs, both Kirby and Josh surely have "made the CFP" bonuses in their contracts.

I agree with that for sure. And it widens the opportunity for coaches to brag to recruits that they made the playoffs. On the other side of the coin though is that if you can’t consistently make a 24 team playoff, the leash is going to get a lot shorter. Big money boosters aren’t going to have any patience for that.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

I agree with that for sure. And it widens the opportunity for coaches to brag to recruits that they made the playoffs. On the other side of the coin though is that if you can’t consistently make a 24 team playoff, the leash is going to get a lot shorter. Big money boosters aren’t going to have any patience for that.

For sure it'll tighten the leash on some but for sure not on Kirby and Josh anytime soon. Moreso Kirby, but I've got some orange tint in my glasses.

Borderline coaches won't be as gung ho about it as others but for Kirby and Josh, it's easier bonus money.

Besides, asking college coaches "Would you like the chance to have more practices and play in the post season?" is like asking your puppy if it wants treats. If the answer is no..... the answer is never no, actually.

 

[NIL>KidsCollegeFund]

Imagine not wanting your team to be in the playoffs and going against this… LOL. This is a NO brainer win for teams that are not elite year in year out.

 

[DougVol]

“A hypothetical 24-team College FootballPlayoff field, which was initially proposed by luminaries from the Big Ten, seems to be gaining steam. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel recently joined a growing list of coaches who have voiced their support for further postseason expansion. In an interview with On3's Chris Low, Heupel noted that he is in favor of a 24-team playoff.

"The way college football is constantly changing, that probably makes the most sense," Heupel said.

Heupel takes this position as a coach who has already made the 12-team College Football Playoff. His Vols made a run to the postseason tournament in 2024, though they lost their first-round game on the road against Ohio State.

They also came close to the CFP in 2022 after beating six ranked teams in the regular season. A late-season loss to South Carolina and an ACL tear suffered by Heisman Trophy-contending quarterback Hendon Hooker bounced Tennessee out of contention, however. The Vols still downed ACC champion Clemson in the Orange Bowl.

Heupel isn't the only prolific coach who has championed a 24-team playoff. Georgia's Kirby Smart, who has two national titles as a head coach in the playoff era, recently advocated for a larger playoff field.

"I think 24 teams is good for the fan bases," Smart said at the Steve Spurrier Awards show. "I think when coaches and ADs look at it, we're looking at our fan bases having an expectation that they want to be in the playoffs -- it's playoffs or bust."

The current 12-team format will continue through at least the 2026-27 season as college football's movers and shakers discuss the future of the playoff. While the Big Ten prefers 24 teams, the other power conferences -- including the SEC -- have thrown their weight behind a 16-team field that operates under a "5+11" format, wherein the five highest-ranked conference champions earn an automatic qualifier and the other 11 spots are reserved for at-large competitors.”

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel advocates for 24-team CFP proposal: 'That probably makes the most sense'

Coaches around the nation are voicing their support for further expansion, and Heupel is the latest to join the growing list

www.cbssports.com

Coach giving Beta vibes wanting 24.

 

[207 others]

Probably because he doesn't have faith in making them this year and makes big bonus in the new system if he roes

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Coach giving Beta vibes wanting 24.

Kirby Smart too? I think not.

They're just looking at the business sense 24 teams in the CFP makes for college football, that is, the TV money from a bigger playoff and the bonus money for the coaches and teams.

It's always the money.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Kirby Smart too? I think not.

They're just looking at the business sense 24 teams in the CFP makes for college football, that is, the TV money from a bigger playoff and the bonus money for the coaches and teams.

It's always the money.

The old timers think College Football should still be ran like it was in the 1960’s.

Times have changed whether they like it or not.

Coaches and the players are chasing the money.

Nothing more.

 

[zeppelin128]

Coaches might want to be careful about expanding to 24 teams. Expectations will change. I know I would expect us to make an expanded 24 team playoff every season.

 

[IndianaVol]

I'm split on expanding the playoff format.

One side, I want to see it expanded because we'll get games like we see in the basketball tournament where an underdog makes a run and that's exciting. Plus we'll get games like this year's Oregon/ Ole Miss game...don't care what fan of what team you are, that was a great, great ball game to the very end.

On the other, it's big enough already. Expansion could also lead to more games like the JMU game where a team is down by 4 scores by halftime. Also, at what point does it just become a participation trophy where you end up ranked at the end of the year and you're in thr playoff? That's not exciting for anyone unless you're in that 22-25 range towards the end of the year.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

The old timers think College Football should still be ran like it was in the 1960’s.

Times have changed whether they like it or not.

Coaches and the players are chasing the money.

Nothing more.

As an old timer, I just want it to die slowly at this point so I'm able to almost, if I squint real hard and hold my head just right, believe that the game I'm watching that says it's college football is college football.

I'm still able to pretend on most Saturdays and that's good enough for me. Me and a bunch of the other old heads will die off sooner rather than later and the younger folks can fix it..... or not.

 

[Volunteer_Kirby]

24 teams is the best possible scenario for viewership and as far as I can tell, minus the NIL deals, viewership is the #1 metric for driving large changes in the structure of CFB today. Expansion is a certainty at this point and 16 teams seems to be around the corner. 24 teams would give the CFB Playoffs a huge facelift and would be a massive hit if they reverted the games a bit closer to the traditional Christmas / New Years schedule where more Americans have time off.

 

[Delmar]

As an old timer, I just want it to die slowly at this point so I'm able to almost, if I squint real hard and hold my head just right, believe that the game I'm watching that says it's college football is college football.

I'm still able to pretend on most Saturdays and that's good enough for me. Me and a bunch of the other old heads will die off sooner rather than later and the younger folks can fix it..... or not.

You’re better at pretending than me. I’m under no illusions that college football and basketball nowadays is anything more than a bunch of mercenaries who could care less about what jersey they’re wearing. It’s NFL Lite to me now. Will still watch UT sports but it doesn’t dominate my schedule or thoughts like it used to. Sad but that’s the case.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

You’re better at pretending than me. I’m under no illusions that college football and basketball nowadays is anything more than a bunch of mercenaries who could care less about what jersey they’re wearing. It’s NFL Lite to me now. Will still watch UT sports but it doesn’t dominate my schedule or thoughts like it used to. Sad but that’s the case.

There's usually bourbon involved...... it helps.

 

[#1fulmerite]

Makes it easier to (back in) like we did two years ago. Makes coaches look better and make (earn) more.

 

[wmcovol]

Heupel rarely says anything & that’s one thing I love about him. He’s comfortable enough with his self that he doesn’t have to hear himself talk or tweet about everything like some coaches.

The current format & calendar is “F’ed” up something terrible. Anything that changes this is great with me.

 

[g0d0fm15ch13f]

“A hypothetical 24-team College FootballPlayoff field, which was initially proposed by luminaries from the Big Ten, seems to be gaining steam. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel recently joined a growing list of coaches who have voiced their support for further postseason expansion. In an interview with On3's Chris Low, Heupel noted that he is in favor of a 24-team playoff.

"The way college football is constantly changing, that probably makes the most sense," Heupel said.

Heupel takes this position as a coach who has already made the 12-team College Football Playoff. His Vols made a run to the postseason tournament in 2024, though they lost their first-round game on the road against Ohio State.

They also came close to the CFP in 2022 after beating six ranked teams in the regular season. A late-season loss to South Carolina and an ACL tear suffered by Heisman Trophy-contending quarterback Hendon Hooker bounced Tennessee out of contention, however. The Vols still downed ACC champion Clemson in the Orange Bowl.

Heupel isn't the only prolific coach who has championed a 24-team playoff. Georgia's Kirby Smart, who has two national titles as a head coach in the playoff era, recently advocated for a larger playoff field.

"I think 24 teams is good for the fan bases," Smart said at the Steve Spurrier Awards show. "I think when coaches and ADs look at it, we're looking at our fan bases having an expectation that they want to be in the playoffs -- it's playoffs or bust."

The current 12-team format will continue through at least the 2026-27 season as college football's movers and shakers discuss the future of the playoff. While the Big Ten prefers 24 teams, the other power conferences -- including the SEC -- have thrown their weight behind a 16-team field that operates under a "5+11" format, wherein the five highest-ranked conference champions earn an automatic qualifier and the other 11 spots are reserved for at-large competitors.”

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel advocates for 24-team CFP proposal: 'That probably makes the most sense'

Coaches around the nation are voicing their support for further expansion, and Heupel is the latest to join the growing list

www.cbssports.com

Yeah love CJH, and normally whole-heartedly agree with his takes. But this is a big swing and miss if you ask me.