Bill Hancock says 12-team format is 'solid' for College Football Playoff
The College Football Playoff just announced they’re expanding to a 12-team format in 2024, but what about a 16-team format?
Reporters are already asking the question, and Bill Hancock, the Executive Director of the College Football Playoff, has the perfect answer.
“Next question! I’m kidding. 12 team is solid,” stated Hancock, per Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated. “Solid.”
Going from 4 to 12 already seems like a huge jump, 16 would simply be unfathomable at the moment. Still, in a couple of years the college football world could be clamoring for it, if history is any indication.
Regardless, exciting times are ahead for the College Football Playoff, as a 12-team Playoff will create a wealth of new opportunities and storylines.
College Football Playoff officially announces expansion to 12 teams in 2024
Alas, a press released hit the public on Thursday morning, featuring a statement from Hancock, regarding the official expansion of the College Football Playoff.
“We’re delighted to be moving forward,” said Hancock, per the College Football Playoff. “When the board expanded the playoff beginning in 2026 and asked the CFP Management Committee to examine the feasibility of starting the new format earlier, the Management Committee went right to work. More teams and more access mean more excitement for fans, alumni, students and student-athletes.
“We appreciate the leaders of the six bowl games and the two future national championship game host cities for their cooperation. Everyone realized that this change is in the best interest of college football and pulled together to make it happen.”
In September, the CFP announced its decision to expand from four teams to 12 by 2026. But after the decision came out, rumors swirled about potential early expansiondepending on whether the CFP could work it out with its contract with ESPN. The initial deal ran through 2025.
A vote to expand before 2026 had to be unanimous, meaning the 10 conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick all had to be in favor of it.
After the committee worked out calendar and revenue distribution, the last hurdle was what to do with the Rose Bowl. The Rose Bowl committee had the power to halt early CFP expansion because it wanted to keep its 5 p.m. ET time slot on New Year’s Day, but ultimately came to an agreement to allow expansion in 2024 on Nov. 30 following an ultimatum from the CFP.
“On behalf of the Management Committee and the Board of Managers, this is thrilling,” Hancock added, per the release. “It’s been a long process, but we are pleased that more teams and more students will have the opportunity to compete for the national championship beginning in the 2024 season.
“A new era of college football is about to begin. I look forward to it.”
The 11 CFP committee members agreed to expand the playoffs in September, ending the four-team format that has been in place since 2014. Multiple conference commissioners had voiced their support for a 12-team playoff during their respective media days, including Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren and new Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark.
On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.