The conference's 18 member schools have unanimously agreed to support the expansion, citing the need for more games and opportunities for television partners. The move is seen as a response to FOX's push for a larger playoff field.
. Why? Because it benefits the league — and its television partners. More on that in a moment, but for now, here’s a quote from Petitti on how an expanded postseason makes the regular season more valuable:That’s all you need to read to understand Petitti’s motivation for expanding the CFP.
More teams means more games, which means more opportunities for FOX, CBS, and NBC to televise meaningful matchups in November and December. Big Ten’s 18 Schools, Commissioner Tony Petitti Unanimously Support 24-Team CFP: “We Feel Strongly About It” Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti and the conference's 18 member schools unanimously support a 24-team CFP:"Inside our league, there is a deep commitment to 24 and the access.
”That’s the real driving force here, even if Petitti frames it differently as this : “Your competitiveness is way up, your stadiums are looking great, and everybody’s jumping around. Like, that’s a big piece of it… You’ve got real value there, so I think there’s more than one way to think about this from a value proposition — not just every dollar that we capture from the CFP, but also what does it mean for the short term of the regular season, and what’s the long-term value?
”made an excellent point this week: the push to expand the College Football Playoff isn’t really about the Big Ten vs. the SEC — it’s about FOX vs. ESPN. Because while commissioners talk about “access,” “value,” and “strengthening the regular season,” the real power centers are the television partners who ultimately decide what that value actually is. FOX is pushing the Big Ten toward a 24-team field for one simple reason: inventory.
More playoff games means more inventory, more partners involved in the product, and more opportunities to turn December into a multi-network showcase. ESPN, which currently holds the CFP’s primary rights through 2032, sees it differently. Scarcity is the product. Fewer teams means higher stakes, bigger exclusivity, and more control over the sport’s most important window.
And just like Petitti framed expansion in terms of “content” and “value proposition,” the networks are doing the same thing — just with different incentives attached. FOX believes more access creates more value. ESPN believes too much access dilutes it. Smith hails from Florida, a land known for its oranges — and its elite high school football talent.
Ohio State has long recruited the Sunshine State, with Joey Bosa and Nick Bosa among the most notable Buckeyes to come out of Florida pipelines. . In recent years, however, the Buckeyes have made Florida a clear priority on the recruiting trail, landing high-end prospects such as Kenyatta Jackson Jr. , Brandon Inniss , Jeremiah Smith , TJ Alford and Simeon Caldwell .
They’ve also added Florida talent through the transfer portal, including Earl Little Jr. and Ja’Kobi Jackson . Four-star defensive end Wyatt Smith, the No. 11 edge and No. 78 overall prospect in the 2027 class, commits to Ohio State. , the move makes even more sense for Ryan Day and his staff. Since 2015, 13 Florida regions have produced 334 NFL Draft picks, including 47 first-round selections:That production will include a growing pipeline of future Buckeyes in 2026.
Jeremiah Smith is a guaranteed first-round pick down the line, while Jackson, Inniss and Little could all elevate their draft stock with strong seasons this fall. Regardless, Ohio State would be wise to continue returning to this fertile ground. It consistently produces elite football talent.
On Oct. 5, 2012, Jones — then a backup Ohio State quarterback, two years before his national championship run with the Buckeyes — posted this: “Why should we have to go to class if we can here to play FOOTBALL, we ain’t come to play SCHOOL, classes are POINTLESS”. This week, Jones and his Ohio State head coach, Urban Meyer, discussed the tweet during Meyer’s appearance on The Script.
Meyer shared his reaction to seeing the post 14 years ago, and what he thinks of it now:“I guess I’ve never overreacted. Was I upset? No. I mean, it’s stupid stuff, and we’ve all done stupid stuff,” Meyer said with a smirk.
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