Bigger CFP faces series of obstacles

When talking about the possibility of expanding the College Football Playoff, the word momentum gets tossed around a lot.

Expansion seems inevitable. Why? Because playoffs always expand. But when?

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany told The Athletic last month he was ready to start talking about a larger playoff field, and prominent Big Ten athletic directors Barry Alvarez of Wisconsin and Jim Phillips from Northwestern have voiced support for that idea.

Momentum toward expansion?

“At the moment I don’t see that kind of momentum,” Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford said.

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who sits on the CFP management committee along with the 10 FBS conference commissioners, said now is the perfect time to talk about changes to the four-team playoff.

“The CFP is doing great in terms of fan interest. In terms television ratings. In terms of every measure it has exceeded our expectations,” Swarbrick said. “So being open to talking about the model, this is the perfect time to do it. Do it from a position of strength.”

But, he added, “Doesn’t mean there’s any momentum for change.”

The current postseason system is not quite halfway through a 12-year contract with ESPN that runs through 2026. The fifth CFP national champion will be crowned Monday night when No. 1 Alabama faces No. 2 Clemson at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Like clockwork, the discussion over whether the current model is satisfactory has been cranked up for weeks — and that word momentum is never far away.

“It would seem to me that the political momentum here is moving in the direction of taking a real hard look at expanding this in some way shape or form over the next period of time, which I think would be before the end of this 12 years,” said Chris Bevilacqua, co-founder of Bevilacqua Helfant Ventures who has advised conferences in media rights contract negotiations.

What is certain about playoff expansion is that it will not be a simple task. That alone suggests later — after the completion of the current media rights deal — is a better bet than sooner.

“I don’t think this is on a fast-track at the moment,” Swofford said. “But I do think there is an openness and willingness to discuss it.”

There would be plenty of hurdles to clear, and the number of teams and how they are chosen is relatively simple compared to everything else.