Former Alabama QB Greg McElroy Doesn’t Mince Words on 16-Team CFP Discussion

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Aug 20, 2025 10:42 AM ET

Former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Greg McElroy views additional College Football Playoff expansion as both illogical and damaging to a sport that prides itself on delivering meaningful regular-season games every Saturday.

The ESPN college football analyst voiced his skepticism during Tuesday’s installment of his “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning” podcast, while joined by longtime SEC personality Paul Finebaum.

The two dove into a swirling discussion about how college administrators could expand the current 12-team model to 16 teams.

McElroy, using the Miami Hurricanes, Alabama Crimson Tide, South Carolina Gamecocks and Ole Miss Rebels as recent examples, took issue with the premise that three-loss teams would have had paths to a national championship last season as the likely last four teams included in a 16-team field. He said that winning just 75% of their regular-season games shouldn't have made them eligible for the postseason.

Finebaum agreed and argued that repetitive, weekly playoff debates exhausted fans and analysts last year. The former Crimson Tide signal-caller made it clear that he believes a more exclusive bracket keeps relevance firmly tied to the regular season.

McElroy Alludes to 16-Team Push a Slippery Slope for College Football

McElroy questioned why decision-makers feel compelled to expand constantly and warned against rewarding mediocrity in the process. He noted that last year’s Miami team, which finished with two losses, would have still sneaked in as a double-digit seed in a 16-team setup.

While Alabama, South Carolina and Ole Miss each lost three times during the regular season, they would still have landed playoff berths under that structure.

He argued that such a broad net damages the defining trait that exalts college football among every major American sport. Like the NFL, college football wants a regular season that demands urgency every single week.

McElroy also fears that adding extra rounds to the playoff would dilute early-season intrigue. The former quarterback suggested there has been no clear explanation provided publicly for why 12 teams are suddenly not enough beyond television executives wanting inventory that stretches deeper into December.

Finebaum Sides with McElroy as Expansion Fatigue Grows Among Fans and Analysts

Finebaum echoed McElroy’s frustration, calling the nonstop playoff expansion speculation “draining” for all involved.

He said the sport risks turning an iconic tradition into a never-ending negotiation if leaders continue to shift the goalposts on how champions are crowned.

While acknowledging that revenue plays a driving factor in every modern era modification, Finebaum said he worries the average fan no longer recognizes the postseason of the past.

McElroy once said a 16-team playoff felt inevitable. Yet Tuesday's conversation pushed back and emphasized that just because something may be coming does not mean he has to like it.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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