Kevin Warren explains how expanded College Football Playoff could benefit Big Ten

In July, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren voiced his support for an expanded College Football Playoff. He got his wish last month when the CFP committee announced it’s growing to 12 teams — and, on Tuesday, he talked about what it means for the Big Ten.

Warren joined Dave Revsine on the Big Ten Network and spoke glowingly about the amount of opportunities an expanded CFP brings to the league. He said conversations are still ongoing about what the new-look playoff will look like, including meetings just this week. Still, he wants to make sure it gets done correctly.

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“What makes it good for the Big Ten is just more access,” Warren said during Big Ten Basketball Media Days. “We’re working as hard as we possibly can to expand the College Football Playoff to a 12-team playoff. Had a meeting on Sunday, had one yesterday, have meetings coming up to see what we can do to get expansion [to] happen for the College Football Playoff.

“I think the more teams who have access, it gives more teams in the Big Ten to have access and the more opportunities for our student-athletes to compete for a national championship. And that’s what’s exciting about it. … We have robust football teams in the Big Ten, and I think what we’re doing to do, the way we are going to structure this expansion is going to be really important. We just need to make sure the bowls are taken care of and everyone is taken care of in an elegant manner.”

Kevin Warren update possibility of having CFP games on campus

There have been rumors about an early expansion of the CFP before the current deal expires in 2026. Warren said his first concern is how it would impact the players’ schedules, but also discussed the possibility of on-campus playoff games. Still, he stressed the importance of the opportunities a 12-team CFP will create.

“I think the biggest thing, Dave, we need to make sure that we are sensitive to our student-athletes that we do it in the right manner,” Warren said. “There’s been some discussion about having, potentially, these first-round games on campus. For us, from a weather standpoint, we’d probably have to play [at] a neutral-site location.

“But we must remember that our student-athletes [are] on our campuses to get a world-class education, and they’re students first and athletes second. And we need to make sure we don’t lose that as we come together. But also, I know in talking with student-athletes, anytime you get an opportunity to compete for a national championship, it really is special. To provide them with that added landscape to be able to do it, I’m looking forward to it.”