Is the 12 Team Playoff Format Better Than The Four Team

College football playoffs are officially upon us and with it comes everyone's favorite debate. Is the 12-team playoff really a good idea, or just a waste? This first-ever 12-team playoff college football playoff has drawn some pretty mixed reactions, with some praising the expansions providing more opportunity and excitement in college football. Others have argued it softens the competition simply to allow larger profit margins at the cost of worse playoff matchups. With opinions varying in every direction, it's difficult to decide if there is a right or wrong answer.

Brooke

When first hearing about the 12-team college football playoff I didn’t think much of it. In all honesty, I thought it was a cool idea in concept.

Still, now I consider it to be an idea that gets too much backlash. For starters, it has led to increased inclusivity within college football. More teams are being allotted the chance to play at higher-profile levels, leading to players enhancing in proficiency.

Further, the largest positive change in the world of college football since this increase is the massive increase in fan engagement. With the expansion of The Big 10 and other conferences in college football has led to a massive increase in fan engagement.

Student fan bases and alumni fan bases alike have shown out and shown up more and more. The expansion of the college football playoff allows students and fans to have more time in the season to root for their school and team of choice.

With increased fan engagement, there also comes an increase in economic opportunity. Schools that now have an increased opportunity to reach the college football playoffs also have the ability to raise funds, donations, and overall engagement. These things not only benefit the team but also the school's athletic departments, departments of student and alumni relations, etc.

At the end of the day, I have no issue with the expansion of the college football playoff system. However all counterarguments are considerably valid, in my opinion, it allows for more expansion and broadening of the college football experience for new and old viewers and fans alike.

Brooke Casey is a third-year broadcast journalism major. To contact her email, bec5457@psu.edu

Bronwyn

When I first learned of the college football playoff expansion, I was excited for schools such as Penn State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, USC, and LSU- schools that commonly find themselves right outside the bubble a chance to make history. This also provided the chance for more meaningful games in the postseason.

Despite being excited, it seemed to be a useless idea, that was just an excuse for committees to make more revenue, but that no one would complain about as football fans love an excuse for more football.

Then came the 2023-2024 season. This was the last season using the four team bracket, and the moment that it was announced 13-0 Florida State would not crack the Top 4 many fans realized the need for an expansion.

Whether you think the team was good enough or not to make it, it was owed to those athletes and fans a shot to prove the country wrong and there was just no way to do so with just four teams.

Now more teams are getting that opportunity.

Despite this you can expand the playoffs to a one hundred team bracket, and you will still have fanbases argue their team deserved to make it in over another team placed within the bracket and even receive complaints about seeding within the so called bracket.

That happened once again this year even with the expansion. The moment it was announced that SMU had been given the 12-seed over Power House Alabama many began to question the direction things were moving.

While teams in the First Four Out will come up with a million excuses it does put a bigger spotlight on those 12 teams within the bracket. Previously, the committee and teams were facing the issue of all their star players declaring for the NFL Draft and opting out of their given Bowl Game in fear of injury. Now with more on the line, more players will stay suited up creating a more accurate and entertaining postseason.

While injuries and bad performances are possible this offers athletes another chance to highlight their name, brand, and talents before events such as the NFL Combine.

Overall, I think the expansion was needed, but needs to be carefully watched to ensure it doesn’t grow any larger than what it has become.

Bronwyn Liber is a second-year student majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact her, email brl5354@psu.edu