The expanded College Football Playoff (CFP) has undoubtedly sparked debates and excitement regarding its effect on the national championship picture.
Yet, one of its greatest and often overlooked benefits is how it influences college football beyond the traditional title chase. While the prospect of crowning a national champion is the centerpiece of the playoff, the expanded format brings significant benefits to players, coaches, programs, and fans that have little to do with who ultimately hoists the trophy in January.
Enhanced Opportunities for More Teams
Prior to the playoff’s expansion, only four teams had a chance to compete for the national title, and that included only the most elite programs. Teams ranked 5th through 12th were often left to languish outside the championship conversation despite having excellent seasons. The new expanded format, however, opens up opportunities for more teams, especially those from conferences that traditionally struggle to get recognized by the playoff selection committee. The inclusion of more teams—especially those ranked in the 9th-12th spots—ensures that deserving programs from across the country have a chance to showcase their talent on the national stage, regardless of their perceived strength in relation to the biggest power conferences.
For example, Group of Five programs, such as those from the American Athletic Conference, the Sun Belt, or Conference USA, now have a legitimate shot at making the postseason. Teams like UCF, Cincinnati, and Memphis, which in previous seasons could only dream of cracking the top four, now have a clear pathway to the playoff, ensuring that college football is more inclusive, fair, and representative of the full range of programs.
Increased Exposure for Smaller Programs
With more teams making the playoff, the expanded format ensures increased exposure for smaller programs that would otherwise be relegated to less prominent bowl games. This is especially significant for recruiting and program development. A program from a mid-major conference can use the visibility of a playoff berth to attract top-tier high school talent who want to be a part of something historic. Not only does this shift the competitive balance within college football, but it also serves to level the playing field. While large programs like Alabama and Ohio State continue to dominate recruiting, smaller programs now have more leverage to recruit players who want the opportunity to compete for a national championship, even if that journey means overcoming more obstacles in the form of powerhouse teams.
Take the example of Cincinnati’s 2021 season, when it made the four-team playoff as a Group of Five representative. The program, which had enjoyed a great deal of success in the previous seasons, now had a spotlight placed on it like never before. The exposure that came with the team’s berth not only solidified Cincinnati’s place in the national conversation but also helped attract future talent who wanted to play in such a high-profile setting.
The Impact on the Bowl System
Another significant change brought about by the expanded College Football Playoff is its effect on the bowl system. Traditionally, the bowl games were often seen as secondary to the national title game. Once the playoff was implemented, bowl games became somewhat diluted in significance as they no longer had the same weight they once did. However, with more teams vying for playoff positions, the bowl system takes on a new life. Now, many more teams are playing in games that matter—not just for the prestige of winning a bowl, but for a potential playoff berth. This adds excitement to games that would have otherwise felt like mere exhibitions or consolation prizes for teams that failed to make the cut for the national title.
The expanded CFP enhances the importance of games across a greater stretch of the regular season and the postseason. Instead of a handful of games dictating the playoff field, teams now have a broader window of opportunity to prove themselves worthy of playoff contention, making the postseason feel less like a formality and more like a true battle for the title.
More Opportunities for Player Development
The expanded playoff also creates more opportunities for player development, particularly for younger players. Traditionally, teams that made the playoff only had one more game to develop their rosters before concluding their season. Now, with more teams having the chance to compete in the playoffs, more players get the chance to play in meaningful games that push them to their limits, accelerating their growth. Coaches also have the benefit of testing their lineups in high-stakes games against top-tier competition, which sharpens their strategies, techniques, and player assessments.
Furthermore, with more teams involved in the playoff, the opportunity to experience a high-pressure postseason environment is available to more players, providing invaluable experience that will pay dividends in the following seasons. Programs that advance deep into the playoff give their players the chance to build chemistry and resilience—qualities that are hard to replicate in the regular season or during bowl games.
Fan Engagement and Regional Appeal
In addition to the direct effects on teams and players, the expanded CFP has deepened fan engagement across the country. Historically, the college football playoff system was somewhat limited in terms of regional representation. Fans of teams outside the power conferences often had to settle for lower-tier bowls, making it difficult for them to feel truly included in the national championship race. The new format has remedied that problem, allowing fans from across the nation to support their teams’ playoff aspirations.
The increased number of games and teams in the playoff also gives fans more opportunities to witness thrilling football matchups that may not have been possible before. This creates a more engaging playoff atmosphere that attracts viewers from regions across the country, not just those with a direct stake in the national championship race. The buzz generated from an underdog team making a deep playoff run is something that resonates well with college football fans, who appreciate the unpredictability and excitement of March Madness-style storylines.
A Better Path for Non-Conference Champions
The expanded playoff also gives conference champions from outside the Power Five conferences a better chance at making the playoff, even if their conference title is not as competitive as those of larger conferences. In the pre-expansion system, a non-Conference champion with an undefeated season could still be excluded if they did not play in a major conference. Under the expanded format, the playoff ensures that conference champions, regardless of their conference’s prestige, have a seat at the table.
This is a critical development for fairness in college football. Programs from conferences like the Mountain West, Conference USA, or even the MAC can now realistically aim for the playoff without having to rely on factors like strength of schedule or team reputation to the extent they did before. The result is a more equitable system where the best teams, not just the most well-known, have the chance to compete for the national championship.
Conclusion
The expanded College Football Playoff has undeniably changed the landscape of college football, not just in terms of determining a national champion, but in ways that fundamentally enhance the sport as a whole. More teams get the opportunity to compete in high-stakes postseason play, smaller programs gain exposure and credibility, players benefit from more developmental opportunities, and fans experience an amplified sense of excitement and engagement. While the national title race remains the focal point, the broader benefits that come with the expanded CFP are transformative, offering much more than just a new way to crown a champion. Through these changes, college football as a whole becomes more inclusive, more competitive, and ultimately more rewarding for all those involved.
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