On Thursday afternoon, the college football landscape was rocked with news that the College Football Playoff is finalizing a deal to expand to 24 teams, starting in 2027. According to ESPN's Pete ThamelandHeather Dinich, the deal includes a format that would eliminate conference championships, grant five automatic bids, and have the first two rounds hosted on campus. While details are yet to be finalized, what we do know is that the future of the sport is about to take a drastic turn, for better or worse.
Here are the pros and cons of how it affects the future of the Washington Huskies.
The Good
Time will tell which programs will benefit or be hindered by playoff expansion, but as of now, there are two major positives for the Huskies. The first, and most
obvious, is the fact that making a playoff appearance has become much easier. With only five automatic bids, 4 given to the Power Four regular-season champions and the highest-ranked Group of Six champ, that leaves nineteen at-large spots for the Huskies to find their way in. With the daunting challenges that a Big Ten schedule poses, the margin for error is much larger than it's been in years past.
Outside of aiming for a bigger target, Washington would also have an opportunity to host home playoff games depending on seeding. With teams ranked No. 1-8 getting a first-round bye, those seeded No. 9-16 would host teams No. 17-24, with the winners advancing to the second round, where games would once again be on campus.
If the Huskies were to find themselves in the top 16 entering the postseason, that would provide the opportunity to play at least one playoff game inside the confines of Husky Stadium. Not only does that mean home-field advantage, but it also would generate additional revenue, which then leads back into the pockets of the football program. To put it simply, hosting playoff games, or making the playoffs in general, would help with roster spending and retention, something the Huskies could greatly benefit from based on recent comments from Jedd Fisch.
CFP Statement about a deal with ESPN for expanded playoff: "Constructive discussions with ESPN continued this week….. We will provide additional updates on the matters of future format and media rights when appropriate.” Most important — no denials or pushback. https://t.co/8PltOhhAG4
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 15, 2026
The Downfall
Remember when the Huskies beat their arch rival Oregon not once, but twice, just three years ago in order to secure a trip to the CFP? Those days are long gone. If that same scenario were to happen in 2027, not only would both teams safely be in the playoff, but there's an outside shot that starters wouldn't even be on the field. While hatred between both programs will still run rampant through the Pacific Northwest, the days of high-stakes matchups between the two teams are dwindling due to the increased margin of error with a 24-team tournament.
Not only does expansion water down rich traditions in the sport, but it also amplifies the pressure on major programs to make the playoffs. With two dozen teams now able to make the big dance, the excuses are minimal as to why a Power Four program could be left out. Based on the Huskies' recent success over the course of the last decade, there's no debating the fact that making the playoffs will become an expectation rather than a goal. Given the fact that UW hasn't finished in the top 25 in the last two seasons and would need a miracle to reach that mark this year, one could argue the pressure is already mounting on Montlake.
In a sport that has shifted from rituals and rivalry to money and mayhem, it's evident that the "leaders" of college football have lost sight of a critical life lesson: Sometimes less is more.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: How CFP Expansion Impacts the Future of Washington Football
