The College Football Playoff is headed towards a new 24-team format beginning next season. It’s been a hot-button topic in the college football world about whether this was a necessary change.
The CFP and ESPN signed a 5-year, $1.7 billion deal for the new format. In the upcoming system, there’ll be no more conference championship games, replaced with 19 at-large bids, the Power 4 conference champions based on the regular season, and the highest ranked Group of 6 team.
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum is a fan of the 24-team playoff. During an appearance on Get Up, he shared his thoughts and began with a shot at Notre Dame.
“No more grandfathering Notre Dame in…No more getting in without a conference championship game,” Finebaum said. “Notre Dame, you’re just like the rest of us now. You have to get in on your own merit. I’m sure they can find a way with their schedule to get in with 3 of 4 losses.”
Finebaum believes this will elevate college football into the NFL’s stratosphere in terms of riveting storylines.
“College football has now taken on the NFL model. Some may not like who sit in ivory towers but I think it’s a great thing. The NFL is the best show in the world. Now, college football in late November, we’ll be arguing over home-field advantage, Wild Card games, where do you match up?” Finebaum said. “Does a Southern team have to go to Notre Dame or up north even farther to Michigan if they ever find a coach who can win and maybe get back into the playoffs or Ohio State if they can figure things out.”
Even though Finebaum is old school at heart, he envisions more fan engagement because of the expanded field.
“It’s so many dramatic moments in time. Yes, I’m a traditionalist but really like where we’re going,” Finebaum said.
