Casagrande: Honest look at what motivates insane CFP expansion

This is an opinion column.

It is time to take a step back. When we get deep into the weeds of the College Football Playoff expansion debate, it is easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Let’s zoom out and analyze the underlying motives driving these constant changes.

The Beauty and the Beast

College football is a unique ecosystem. Its decentralized structure creates a flavor unmatched by traditional pro sports, something we should never take for granted. However, there is an ugly side to this lack of uniformity, and those teeth are beginning to show.

Without a centralized power structure, the sport is split into factions. It is akin to a disjointed offensive line—like Alabama’s 2025 unit—where players aren't communicating, leading to blown assignments and negative plays. In the world of playoff expansion, everyone is rowing, just in different directions.

Follow the Incentives

When you look at the major players, the motives are transparent: conference commissioners want to preserve power, athletic directors crave revenue, and coaches need a seat at the table. It is all about self-preservation.

Take Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, for example. Speaking recently to On3, Bielema noted that he would love to see as many teams included in the playoff as humanly possible. You can’t blame him; for a middle-tier Big Ten program, a massive bracket is the surest way to secure post-season bonuses and job stability. It is no surprise that the American Football Coaches Association recently backed a 24-team bracket.

The Problem with 'Access'

The industry keeps leaning on the word "access," but here is the cold reality: when everyone makes the playoffs, the value of each spot diminishes. While a 12-team field still carries weight, the prestige of the old four-team model is fading. Furthermore, playoff appearances aren't a magical shield against firing—just ask former Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley, who was let go after a postseason run.

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti is pushing for a maximalist approach because it benefits his top-heavy conference. Based on last year's rankings, a 24-team bracket would have included six Big Ten teams, ranging from top-tier programs to an 8-4 Iowa squad. Meanwhile, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has been more measured, favoring a 16-team format. As Sankey noted during an APSE regional meeting in Birmingham, the SEC was the only conference to consistently put teams in the top four, meaning they never technically needed the growth of the playoffs to remain relevant.

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, there is no entity looking out for the "greater good" of college football. Those in power are not looking to cede their influence, and kings generally prefer to remain kings. It is a messy, unorthodox power structure, but it is the reality of the sport we follow. Sometimes, you have to zoom out to really understand the chaos happening at ground level.