Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has voiced support for the anticipated expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP) to include 24 teams. Day, whose Buckeyes won the 2024 CFP national championship as the first team to navigate a 12-team field, sees significant advantages in a larger playoff format.
"It's great for college football for a lot of reasons," Day stated in an appearance on FOX Sports' "The Herd With Colin Cowherd." "More teams are involved and relevant. I think it's great for fanbases, overall."
An expanded 24-team field could offer more leeway for teams that experience early-season setbacks. This potential inclusion of teams with multiple losses could spark debate about the competitive balance of first-round matchups. However, Day suggested it might also incentivize scheduling challenging nonconference opponents, as demonstrated by Ohio State's recent home-and-home series with Texas.
"The expansion allows all of us to play some of those nonconference games earlier in the year, which is good for the game," Day explained. He added that facing a strong opponent early provides crucial clarity for coaching staffs, contrasting it with games won by large margins.
Day also noted the developmental aspect of college football teams throughout a season. "The way things go now, your team is growing. We're a different team than we were earlier in the season. Indiana's a different team than they were earlier in the season. So as you continue to evolve — you know you want to be playing your best football at the end of the season," he said. A larger playoff structure, he suggested, could better accommodate teams peaking later in the year.
The expansion to 24 teams appears to be a likely development for the CFP. Day and the Ohio State program are preparing for the strategic implications and opportunities such a change may present.