Lanning Discusses Potential Playoff Expansion

Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning recently discussed the potential expansion of the College Football Playoff on The Rich Eisen Show. Lanning stated that he is open to the idea of expanding the playoff, saying “it makes sense” for college football.

Expanding the Playoff

Lanning noted that if the goal is to generate more revenue, adding more teams to the playoff would be a logical step. He also mentioned that this could lead to more fan engagement, fewer players sitting out of bowl games, and a decrease in players entering the transfer portal.

The current College Football Playoff format, which features 12 teams, was implemented in 2024. Prior to this, the playoff consisted of only four teams from 2014 to 2023.

Benefits of Expansion

Lanning believes that expanding the playoff could have several benefits, including more opportunities for teams to compete for a national championship. He cited the example of the 2024 season, in which the No. 8 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes won the national title despite being ranked lower than the No. 1 Oregon Ducks.

This outcome demonstrates that even teams with a few losses during the regular season can still win a national title if they are given the chance to participate in the playoff.

Conference realignment has also changed college football, with the SEC and Big Ten adding new schools and the Pac-12 being significantly altered. This shift has led to a new era in college football, and the playoff format may need to adapt to these changes.

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A New Era in College Football

The implementation of a 12-team playoff in 2024 was a response to these changes, and it has already shown that teams from outside the top two rankings can win a national championship. As college football continues to evolve, the playoff format may be expanded further to include even more teams.

For now, Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks will continue to compete under the current format, which has already brought them success in recent years. They have a unique perspective on the current system and its potential for expansion.

In practice, an expanded playoff could mean that more teams like Oregon have a chance to compete for a national title, which could lead to increased excitement and engagement among fans. It could also lead to a more competitive balance among teams, as more schools would have a chance to participate in the playoff and potentially win a championship.

The college football calendar has been a challenge with the transfer portal overlapping with games, and an expanded playoff could help to alleviate this issue. By providing more opportunities for teams to compete, an expanded playoff could lead to fewer players entering the transfer portal and more players participating in bowl games, which is a key aspect of the starting lineup for many teams.

College football fans are eager to see how the playoff format will evolve in the coming years.