The Varsity The CFP Expansion That Wasn’t
Dec 24, 2025
Nicole Auerbach, lead college football insider for NBC Sports, dives into the complexities of the College Football Playoff landscape. She critiques the lackluster first-round matchups and discusses the uncertain future of CFP expansion due to Big Ten–SEC tensions. Nicole shares insights into Notre Dame's potential conference moves and the growing financial pressures on athletic departments. She also touches on the impact of rapid coaching turnover and her surprising national championship pick, Indiana.
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First-Round Dullness Isn't The Whole Story
- The CFP first-round games lacked buzz partly because many participants are flawed, high-variance teams.
- Nicole Auerbach says as long as later rounds improve, the early dullness is tolerable.
Big Ten–SEC Rift Blocks Fast Expansion
- Expansion for 2026 is uncertain because the Big Ten and SEC must agree and they want different formats.
- The Big Ten dislikes at-large heavy brackets while the SEC supports more at-large spots, stalling progress.
Track The End‑Of‑January Deadline
- Watch the commissioners' end-of-January decision as the key timetable for any 2026 change.
- Don't expect big format shifts unless Tony Petitti and Greg Sankey reconcile competing priorities.