Tony Petitti rejects 16-team format in College Football Playoff talks
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti supports a 24-team College Football Playoff, rejecting a 16-team format, with ACC and Big 12 backing expansion.
Olivia Bennett 
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has made his stance on the future of the College Football Playoff crystal clear: it is a 24-team format or nothing at all.
Petitti Rejects 16-Team Proposal
Speaking at the Big Ten meetings on the West Coast, the Big Ten leader reaffirmed his support for expanding the field to 24 teams while flatly dismissing the 16-team format frequently discussed by other stakeholders. Petitti noted that the conference has not engaged in any substantive dialogue regarding a 16-team bracket.
"We’ve had zero conversation about 16," Petitti told reporters. "Plan B is what we have now. We would stay with what we have now."
Momentum for Expansion
The Big Ten is not alone in its push for a 24-team playoff; both the ACC and Big 12 have thrown their support behind the proposal. The SEC remains the only Power Four league that has yet to publicly weigh in, though discussions are anticipated during next week's league meetings.
Under the proposed 24-team structure, the top eight seeds would secure a first-round bye and home-field advantage. Petitti, drawing on his background in professional sports, argues that keeping more teams in contention later in the season is a proven strategy for fan engagement.
"When I was at [Major League] baseball, we never had to convince anybody that keeping more teams in the race is better for everybody and the fans," Petitti said. "I think that more teams alive as late as possible is a fundamental way that I thought about it."
Could 2027 Be the Target?
Regarding a potential implementation date, Petitti suggested that a 2027 launch is not out of the question if stakeholders reach an agreement. He emphasized that the primary logistical hurdle would be coordinating with media partners rather than internal scheduling conflicts.
"I don’t see any scheduling reason why it couldn’t happen," Petitti stated. "I think we can undo our championship game, do those things, I feel like we could, I think it would be the media partner, and would they be ready to do it?"
