Heather Dinich makes the case for a 12-team College Football Playoff in 2023

The College Football Playoff won’t kick off until January 1, but at this point of the season, there seems to be more contenders than ever that could have a chance to make the cut.

The four-team College Football Playoff model is currently in its last season, with the playoff expanding to 12 teams next year for the 2024 season. But with so many promising teams with playoff potential in the country, would this football season have been the best time to debut the expanded model? College football reporter Heather Dinich joined Paul Finebaum on ‘The Paul Finebaum Show’ Wednesday to discuss that very question.

“See that’s funny because I feel like this year is the perfect year to argue for the 12-team playoff, and they could have had it in place by now,” Dinich said.

Dinich is ESPN’s foremost College Football Playoff insider, and like many fans, she too can’t help but think of how exciting a 12-team playoff would be specific to this season as so many teams have already shown so much promise.

“I’ll point out Notre Dame as an example, what if they run the table and their only loss is at the end of the clock on the game on a call that was reviewed to Ohio State?” Dinich asked. “Is that a College Football Playoff team? Well I just think it would be fun to find out if they were in the 12-team playoff how far they could go.

“And then what if Alabama does lose to Texas A&M on Saturday? But don’t tell me that they’re still not a terrific team, so if there were a 12-team playoff Alabama would probably wind up being in it,” Dinich added.

As it stands, there are a multitude of programs that may be worthy of a shot to compete for the national championship this season. But unfortunately, with only four spots in the playoff up for grabs, only the teams with flawless records or conference championship titles will likely get their chance.

“So I just think that the depth and the variety of the teams out there helps illustrate this year how fun it could be if some of these teams just had a little bit more wiggle room that they could breathe, and exhale, and know that it’s okay. You lost a game, but you’re not out of this thing quite yet,” Dinich concluded.

There is no question that the College Football Playoff Selection Committee will likely have its hands full as they decide which teams are worthy of this year’s four playoff spots, a problem that could have likely been solved if the 12-team playoff was enacted this season amid the increased level of parity and talent across the college football landscape.