College Football Playoff Expands to 12 Teams: Stars React

The College Football Playoff is expanding to 12 teams in 2024, and the move is being met with unanimous praise from some of the sport's biggest stars.

The College Football Playoff era is entering a new chapter as the playoff field will expand to 12 teams in 2024. The move is being hailed as a positive step by some of the sport's biggest stars, who believe it will provide more opportunities for teams to compete for a national championship.

"You ask any program, their goal is to win a national championship. With the opportunity of a 12-team playoff, that extends everybody's goal as far as trying to achieve them. It's a great opportunity for them to do that," said Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.

College Football Playoff Expands to 12 Teams: Stars React

Colorado two-way superstar Travis Hunter echoed Milroe's sentiments, stating, "It's giving a lot of teams an opportunity to get in there. I'm excited to see what we can do so we can be a part of that playoff. I like it."

The expansion of the playoff comes after years of controversy surrounding the four-team format. In 2022, undefeated Florida State and reigning national champion Georgia were left out of the playoff, sparking outrage among fans and pundits.

College Football Playoff Expands to 12 Teams: Stars React

The new format will give teams more chances to reach the playoff. Seeds 1 through 4 will be the highest-ranked conference champions and will receive a bye. The fifth team will be seeded where it is ranked or at No. 12 if it is outside the top 12 rankings. The remaining teams will be the next best-ranked teams.

The first-round games will take place on Dec. 20-21, and the quarterfinals will be on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The semifinals are slated for Jan. 9-10, and the championship will be on Jan. 20.

College Football Playoff Expands to 12 Teams: Stars React

Big Ten stars Donovan Edwards and Emeka Egbuka believe the expansion was necessary to ensure fairness and provide more opportunities for deserving teams.

"It's fair to a certain standpoint. You can have a really successful season but lose one game and be out of the playoffs. I don't think that's fair," said Edwards.

Egbuka added, "Every year, there's teams that are super-deserving of those spots, but there could only be four in the past, which is kind of limiting. I remember in recent history, teams like FSU, undefeated season, but they didn't get a shot at it. That's going to take that out of the equation, and having a 12-team playoff, despite what you didn't do earlier in the season, you get a chance to show you're really the best team out there."

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers shared similar views, stating that the expansion will benefit smaller programs and provide more room for error.

"Even for a smaller program that hasn't had the opportunities, that hasn't had some of the opportunities that some of the bigger programs have had, I think it's going to be awesome for those guys to get a shot at it, for sure," said Ewers.

One of the most exciting aspects of the expansion is that seeds 5, 6, 7, and 8 will all host home playoff games. LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier believes this will create unique matchups and add to the excitement of the playoff.

"To have a playoff game in Death Valley would be insane," said Nussmeier, referring to LSU's iconic stadium.

The expansion of the College Football Playoff is a significant step forward for the sport. It will provide more opportunities for teams to compete for a national championship and create more memorable moments for fans.