Paul Finebaum critiques Tony Petitti's push for 24-team CFP format
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 30, 2026, 4:30 PM
Last updated Jul 30, 2026
On The Dan Patrick Show, Paul Finebaum questioned Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti's strong advocacy for a 24-team College Football Playoff format. Finebaum suggested that Petitti's motives are linked to maximizing television revenue, particularly regarding rights held by ESPN. At Big Ten Media Days, Petitti reiterated his support for the expanded playoff despite low fan enthusiasm, arguing it would attract large audiences. The debate continues amidst conflicting interests between ESPN and Fox, with significant implications for the sport's television and its fan engagement.
- •Finebaum questions the rationale behind Petitti's playoff expansion push.
- •Petitti remains a vocal advocate for a 24-team playoff format.
- •The current CFP setup involves exclusive rights for ESPN through 2031.
- •Fox and ESPN are positioning themselves in a competitive media.
- •Petitti claims expansion will ensure filled stadiums and significant audiences.
- 4:30 PMYahoo Sports — Paul Finebaum accuses Tony Petitti of playing ‘the television play’ with CFP expansion push
"Why is the Big Ten commissioner so gung-ho on pushing for a 24-team format that his own league’s fans don’t want and the sport’s other major conference won’t accept? That’s the question Paul Finebaum set out to answer during a recent appearance on The Dan Patrick Show. ESPN holds the CFP exclusively up to a certain…
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