The status of the College Football Playoff has been discussed ad nauseam this offseason, with questions popping up both about expansion and the selection process. Now, Ohio State Buckeyes athletic director Ross Bjork has shared some of his thoughts on expansion and potential future models.
Ultimately, Bjork made it clear that he feels expansion is what would be best for college football as a whole. His preferred model, meanwhile, would be the 4+4+2+2+1 model that has largely been floated by the Big Ten and SEC.
“We could be really, really selfish here and say we should go back to a four-team Playoff,” Ross Bjork said. “And I think Ohio State will be really good. We will be well positioned. But for the good of the game, I think for our conference, I think expansion should happen. 14 or 16, I could kind of go either way.”
Under the 4+4+2+2+1 model, four SEC and four Big Ten teams would get automatic bids, two ACC and two Big 12 teams would get automatic bids, and one Group of Six team would get an automatic bid. It’s largely opposed by a 5+11 model, which would give each conference in the Power Four an automatic bid, the Group of Six an automatic bid, and then 11 at-large bids. Importantly, the 4+4+2+2+1 model distinguishes itself by allowing for the Big Ten and SEC to schedule play-in games to the Playoff.
“Look, I think in this world, one, I think players want to play high-level games, and then two, content. We need more content,” Bjork said. “Because that will drive more revenue. That can drive more NIL opportunities for our athletes. Third-party NIL. So, can we create play-in games that equate to automatic qualifiers? I think that’s a really good model.”
Another part of why Ross Bjork is interested in this model involving play-in games is that it would, potentially, limit the College Football Playoff Selection Committee’s influence. Those tightly debated teams on the bubble would, in essence, determine things for themselves. In the process, there’d be another game to sell.
“There’s a lot of debate about the committee, right? And what kind of metrics they have. If you have automatic qualifying spots with play-in games, then you have more content,” Bjork said. “And you eliminate a lot of the committee dynamics that may get in the way. So, that was our thought, we think, but again, take a step back. Let’s recalibrate these conversations. Let’s figure out what is the right model. But from our standpoint, we’re always going to be in position. We’re consistent in our performance, in our recruiting, and Coach [Ryan] Day and the leadership.
In the same press conference, Ross Bjork noted that he wants the conference commissioners to talk about Playoff expansion and potential formats. After all, there is still plenty of work to be done before expansion or a format change comes to the Playoff. Different programs have different ideas on what’s best.
“But that’s our perspective,” Bjork said. “Expansion. Let’s get the right model that I think produces more excitement, more content, makes the regular season matter. The fact that we’re playing Texas the next two years, Alabama the two years after that, Georgia down the road. If we’re gonna keep playing those games, then it needs to add up in the playoff calculation. Otherwise, you won’t see those games, and I think that’d be sad for college football.”
One major concern with the 4+4+2+2+1 model is that it could devalue conference championship games, which are important for television. Still, that doesn’t mean that the Big Ten Championship and others couldn’t continue. There are just questions that need to be answered first.
“Look, I think it depends. I mean, I think it provides a tremendous amount of value,” Bjork said. “But if you’re doing AQ spots with play-in games, could there be a different model, right? So, I think that’s a conversation that has to continue.”
The future of the College Football Playoff remains murky. Everyone has an opinion and tends to feel strongly about it, so it will be interesting to see how things play out.
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