The College Football Playoff is now in its third year of the 12-team field experiment. Thus far, the early returns are mixed, but the sport is overall happy with the increased revenue and record ratings more playoff games have brought.
Of course, there are issues as well. The College Football calendar is compromised. The transfer portal has encroached on the CFP. And there are still perceived snubs with 12 teams making the field. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish's snub this past December changed the sport's rules for the 2026/2027 field.
Recently, Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart and Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel backed the field expanding to 24 teams. CBS Sports' Cody Nagel predicted more SEC schools would follow suit.
"The first wave has already started. Georgia coach Kirby Smart has signaled openness to a 24-team College Football Playoff field. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel has done the same. Don't be surprised if more SEC coaches advocate for the number over the next year. With the nine-game conference schedule beginning in 2026, the math inside the SEC is about to change -- and so is the margin for error," Nagel wrote.
Auburn should want an expanded CFP field
If there's any program that should want the CFP to expand, it's the Auburn Tigers. Based on how the basketball is being perceived right now as March Madness approaches, that is to say, as a favorite over an undefeated mid-major, the Miami (OH) Redhawks, and thus potentially more deserving of an NCAA Tournament bid if Miami (OH) doesn't win the MAC, AU would be pushed for any extra playoff spot because of strength of schedule concerns.
Based on spending power, the Texas Longhorns, LSU Tigers, and a handful of other teams in any given cycle, like the Florida Gators, Ole Miss Rebels, Volunteers, or Dawgs, will always be in the hunt. Auburn needs to take advantage of the Tigers' good years.
That may just be good enough to sneak into one of those final spots with three, or potentially even four, regular-season losses in a given season.