Reports: Big Ten floats expanding CFP to 24 or 28 teams

The Big Ten is exploring the idea of a massive expansion of the College Football Playoff field to 24 or 28 teams, multiple outlets reported Saturday.

BY FIELD LEVEL MEDIA

Aug 18, 2025, 10:31 AM Updated: 12:50 pm

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The Big Ten is exploring the idea of a massive expansion of the College Football Playoff field to 24 or 28 teams, multiple outlets reported Saturday.

The proposal is still “in the very early stages,” with Big Ten commissioner Tony Pettiti discussing it with his league’s athletic directors on Wednesday, according to ESPN.

Sources: The Big Ten has begun populating an expanded College Football Playoff idea, which could include 24 or 28 teams. Just an idea at this point. pic.twitter.com/0NlTQ1BN8F

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 16, 2025

More on the College Football Playoff

The 28-team College Football Playoff model would reportedly eliminate conference title games and offer a high number of automatic bids to Power 4 conferences: seven each for the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference and five each for the Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference. There would be two auto bids for the remaining conferences, plus two at-large teams.

Under this plan, the College Football Playoff committee would seed the field and select the at-large teams.

The 2025 season marks the second year with a 12-team playoff, with the Big Ten’s Ohio State winning it all after the 2024 campaign.

College Football Playoff executives have until Dec. 1 to notify media partner ESPN of any expansion plans for 2026. Plans discussed to this point have generally focused on a potential 16-team format.

–Field Level Media

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The 2025 UC Davis football defense is poised to be one of the better units in the country, with six-year defensive coordinator Matt Coombs surrounding a returning strong core of Aggies with an equally talented group of incomers.

“We did a really good job of rebuilding our unit around the strong group of returners we have for the upcoming season,” said Coombs. “Up front we got bigger and in the secondary and among the linebackers we return some of our top guys from last year. I’m excited to see what the unit can accomplish in a challenging conference to defend.”

DEFENSIVE LINE: During 2024 the defensive line was one of the more consistent units on the defensive side of the ball and with transfers like preseason All-American Jacob Psyk and Derrell Porter coming on board with top contributing returners Trent Carrade and Joey Carrillo the Aggie front should continue to be a force.

“This year we will have, some young guys returning,” said Jane and Fred Arp Defensive Line Coach Jerry Brady. “But those guys will be key to how we play up front. For us, it’s all about stopping the run first and then being physical as a unit.”

Tom Sackinsky (Sierra College), Julius Ray (Pasadena City College) and Ike Ikegbu (American River College) join Psyk (Harvard) and Porter (Dartmouth) as transfers to the unit. Psyk and Porter were both All-Ivy League during the 2024 season, with Psyk finishing the season ranked 29th nationally in total sacks.

Carrade returns with the most tackles from 2024, having made seven total stops in a primary backup role during the season, while Carrillo made five total tackles and added one sack. Jake Williams, Rayne Mayo Jr. and Clayton Lynam make up the rest of the returning Aggies.

LINEBACKERS: In the middle, UC Davis football boasts a preseason All-American along with an experienced returning bunch that should put the Aggie linebacking corps in position to make an impact on both the run and the pass.

Porter Connors highlights the Aggie corps, earning both preseason All-American and All-Big Sky Conference honors. Connors brings with him 86 total tackles from the 2025 season, and he is the second-leading returning tackler on the team.

“Porter is a guy that has played a lot of football here and been a really good Aggie for us,” said assistant coach Austin Taylor. “I’m excited to see how he expands his role and grows into a leader for us.”