The push to expand the College Football Playoff to 24 teams has gathered further momentum after Big 12 coaches unanimously backed a larger postseason field during the conference’s spring meetings in Frisco, Texas.

West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez, who chairs the Big 12 coaches committee, revealed that all 16 coaches supported expansion to a 24-team model at a time when college football’s power conferences remain divided over the future shape of the playoff.

At the heart of the debate is a question that stretches beyond simple access. Supporters argue a 24-team field would create more opportunities for deserving teams from conferences such as the Big 12 and ACC, while critics fear further expansion could dilute the value of the regular season and undermine the significance of conference championship games.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has emerged as one of the strongest advocates for expansion, aligning himself with the Big Ten and the ACC in favour of a larger bracket. The SEC, however, continues to favour a more modest increase from the current 12-team format to 16 teams, creating a growing fault line between the sport’s most influential conferences.

The latest endorsement from Big 12 coaches came after College Football Playoff officials delivered a presentation lasting more than an hour to conference members outlining potential expansion scenarios. According to CFP data presented at the meetings, the Big 12 would have placed five teams in a 24-team playoff last season, despite sending only conference champion Texas Tech to the 12-team field, and Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire believes that that alone demonstrates why a larger playoff would better reflect the strength of the conference.

“We’ve got a great conference and it’s unfortunate we weren’t represented with a couple teams last year,” McGuire said. “I think that’s one of the reasons we believe 24 teams is a better spot for us.”

The debate has become one of the defining issues facing college football’s leadership. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has already signalled support for a 24-team format, while ACC administrators and coaches have also backed expansion. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, meanwhile, has repeatedly urged caution and continues to favour a 16-team model, warning against moving too quickly toward a significantly larger field with the argument that administrators still need to understand the wider implications for the regular season, conference championship games and the sport’s calendar.

The disagreement leaves the future of the playoff uncertain despite growing support outside the SEC. College Football Playoff leaders face a December 1st deadline to agree on a format for the 2027 season, although previous deadlines have been extended as negotiations continued.