College Football Playoff considering expanding to 16 teams

ESPN's Heather Dinich reported on Friday that the College Football Playoff management committee has considered possibilities for expanding the playoff in the future to anywhere between six and 16 teams. 

However, CFP executive director Bill Hancock told ESPN that we're likely years away from any expanded playoff.

"There will not be a new format this season or next season," Hancock explained. "The timetable is certainly an important detail, but it hasn't been determined yet. It's too soon to predict the timing, but even if the board decides to alter the format, it may well not occur until after the current agreement has expired, which isn't until after the 2025 season."

The CFP will enter the eighth season of what is meant to be a 12-year contract when the season kicks off. Expansion is inevitable, largely because of the revenue such a tournament would generate via television and media rights, and American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco added he's a fan of the idea. 

"I think it has to happen because there's just too much dissatisfaction with the current system," Aresco said. "Ultimately, I think there will be support for it because not only would the [Group of 5] obviously want it, but clearly there are [Power 5] guys being left out who would like a shot."

Expanding the playoff would drastically impact the current bowl structure, but practically everyone involved — including players, universities, NCAA executives and fans — is in favor of a tournament that includes more than four teams. In this instance, expansion is a matter of when and not if.