After a decade of the 4-team field for the College Football Playoff, the 12-team field has been around for two seasons now. Despite the new format being so new and already seeing some seeding changes, talks of further expansion don't seem to be going away.
Discussions about expanding the playoff to 24 teams are continuing, and it increasingly appears that the format could become a reality in the near future. That would be yet another seismic shift in the college football landscape, and would have far-reach effects for each conference.
In the Big Ten, that would mean saying goodbye to the Big Ten Championship Game.
Tony Petitti says Big Ten Championship Game would end in 24-team playoff
The 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days are taking place in Chicago this week, and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti spent ample time talking with the media to kick-off the event. Naturally, talks of CFP expansion came up and Petitti wasted no time saying how expanding the playoff to 24 teams would impact the Big Ten, and more specifically, the Big Ten Championship Game.
"Yeah, I think it's pretty much we won't be playing a championship game if we go to 24...It's still very powerful to win a Big Ten championship, and teams play hard. They want to win that game, but you're talking about a pretty tough journey to go all the way through and where you are playing next and what happens if a team loses that game, they don't get a bye, and they have to go play relatively quickly."Tony Petitti
Petitti mentions how the Big Ten's representation in the CFP could be hurt for the losing team of the Big Ten title game. In that scenario, the losing team would most likely lose a first-round bye in the CFP.
3 burning questions Indiana fans want Curt Cignetti to answer at Big Ten Media Days
That isn't what Petitti wants to see. He wants the Big Ten to be put in the best possible scenario to win National Championships, and the reward of winning the Big Ten Championship Game may not be worth the risk of losing it in the greater scheme of a 24-team CFP.
"I think we just have gotten past that. We think overall if we expand the playoff and have the access we need, we'd be willing to make that trade. As great as our championship has been, it's been wildly successful. We've had incredible games the last couple of seasons, but I still think we're willing to do that because we believe that access is still the most important thing."Tony Petitti
Based on Petitti's comments, it seems that the Big Ten would be willing to trade the conference title game for further access and representation in an expanded 24-team CFP field. As it stands, there doesn't seem to be a path where both could happen.
Losing the Big Ten Championship Game would be a huge change
The Big Ten Championship Game has become an iconic staple of the conference, and seeing it go would be a shame. Typically played on the first Saturday of December in Indianapolis, the Big Ten title game between the conference's top two teams has produced some electric and memorable games over the years.
Last December, the Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 13-10 in the Big Ten Championship Game. It was a momentous victory for the Hoosiers for many reasons, and it kick-started IU's run to a National Championship in the College Football Playoff. Fans of the Cream and Crimson will never forget winning that conference title against the defending national champs in The Hoosier State.
If this change does become a reality, not having a Big Ten title game would be a huge pivot for the league. With the Big Ten vying for as many spots as possible in a 24-team playoff, and there's a good chance that half a dozen or more Big Ten teams could get in on a yearly basis. Furthermore, as Petitti points out, not risking losing a first round bye could bode well for the Big Ten's chances of winning more national titles.
It will be interesting to see how talks surrounding the 24-team playoff advance in the coming months. But if things continue trending the way they are, the Big Ten Championship Game could be on the way out.
Add us as a preferred source on Google