Big Ten to eliminate championship game for 24-team playoff
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 28, 2026, 8:51 PM
Last updated Jul 28, 2026
The Big Ten Conference plans to eliminate its championship game if college football adopts a 24-team playoff format. Commissioner Tony Petitti expressed that this choice is necessary to create a more competitive postseason structure, emphasizing the need for teams to focus on late-season game implications. The proposal for the expanded playoff format has gained the backing of several other conferences, including the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12, although the Southeastern Conference has not yet committed. Discussions around the shift highlight differing views among conferences, particularly concerning the financial impact of removing the championship game and the future of postseason competition.
- •Big Ten eliminates championship game if 24-team playoff is adopted
- •Commissioner Tony Petitti supports the format for competitive reasons
- •ACC and Big 12 back the expansion; SEC remains undecided
- •Discussion highlights financial implications of playoff format change
- •Big Ten coaches largely support Petitti's vision for playoffs
- 8:51 PMYahoo Sports — Big Ten: No league championship game if college football moves to a 24-team playoff
"The Big Ten Conference would do away with its championship game if college football adopts a 24-team playoff. Commissioner Tony Petitti says that’s a worthwhile sacrifice to get his preferred postseason format. “When we make this decision as a league – are we going to support 24 – that’s where you start the conversation,” Petitti said Tuesday as the Big Ten opened its football media days.
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