‘I’m So Happy,’ ‘24 Teams Ain’t Even That Much’ — 2-Time Super Bowl Champion Surprisingly Supports College Football Playoff Expansion
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LeSean McCoy, the former Pitt running back and two-time Super Bowl champion, didn’t hold back in his support for College Football Playoff expansion, a day after ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the CFP is nearing a deal to double its field from 12 to 24 teams beginning in 2027.
LeSean McCoy’s One-Loss Argument and the Case Against a 24-Team Field
McCoy, during a segment on “Speakeasy,” pointed out how little room for error the sport used to give a contender.
“I love it, man. I’m so happy, you know for a couple of reasons,” McCoy said. “For one, back in the day, you lose one game and that’s it. It’s over. There are times when your quarterback pulls a hamstring and he’s going to be out three weeks. So, now, if we lose one of those games during those three weeks, we can’t go to the playoffs. We can’t go to the championship.”
“Now, that can change,” he added. “You talk about the NFL, there’s only 32 teams in the NFL. There are so many college teams in football. To be honest with you, 24 teams ain’t even that much, and everybody can be beaten now with the NIL money being passed around. You see it in the SEC now. Every team can be beaten, all of them.”
McCoy pointed out that college football programs with less exposure will now have more opportunities to play on a bigger stage, giving their players a chance to make a name for themselves. He believes the increased visibility could ultimately help players gain more recognition, improve their draft stock, and boost their NIL earnings.
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“So, I love the way college football is going right now,” McCoy said. “The only thing I hope is that they don’t pass that law (Protect the College Sports Act). The dudes that want it are the ones who don’t want to protect college football.”
How a 24-Team Bracket Would Work and Where the Deal Stands
Under the reported format, the top eight seeds would get first-round byes and host second-round games, and seeds 9 through 16 would host opening-round games. The first two rounds would be played on campus, with the New Year’s Six bowls hosting the quarterfinals and semifinals.
The change, which would come only three seasons after the bracket grew from four teams to 12, would also reportedly eliminate Power Four conference championship games and move the start of the season up a week.
The idea has gained ground among conference commissioners. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has led the push for 24 teams, and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, who backed a 16-team field last December, indicated this week that he was open to 24. The ACC and Big 12 initially opposed the Big Ten’s AQ-heavy 24-team proposals before backing a more at-large-driven 24-team model this spring.
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The deal has not been finalized, and the CFP faces a Dec. 1 deadline to approve changes for the 2027 season. If it goes through, this season will be the last of the 12-team format.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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