This may not have a direct impact on the NFL, but the NCAA’s recent change to their playoff structure will undoubtedly shape the scouting of the Houston Texans and every other NFL team going forward.
The NCAA is expanding the playoffs from its current 12-team format, which has only been in place since the 2023 season, to 24 teams starting next year. As part of their expansion, they have eliminated conference championship games, something that seemed to disappoint Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans.
“I think it was a lot of pride in winning your conference back when I was playing. If you won the SEC, that was a huge deal. But now, when the playoffs started, you can see how less of an impact that made or how probably more significant of an impact if you end
up losing your conference game. You've earned the right to play in it, but then it hurts you in the playoff seeding, that really didn't sit well,” Ryans said. “It's not great news to hear that the conference championships are going away from a guy who's just all about, ‘Hey, I go to this school to have pride in this school and I'm represented for my school.’ It means a lot to me as an alum to go cheer on and say we're the conference champions. If that's gone away now, that focus just drives to the playoffs. Can we get in the playoffs, having home playoff games?"
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 9, 2026
Ryans raised a point that was probably key to getting rid of conference championships - the fact that a team’s playoff chances could be negatively affected by losing in a conference championship game even though they earned the right to play in that game.
This also shows the continued impact of NIL on college sports since this move was done partially to increase the money prominent football schools will receive by having more teams in the playoffs and more games where colleges host a playoff game.
"I think that'll be very impactful for college teams and just the whole playoff atmosphere. You feel that energy as they've added teams, you feel the energy, you feel the excitement," Ryans said. "College football is always fun to watch, always exciting, always fun for us in the NFL. You never know what's going to happen on Saturday night."
The 24-team playoff model will begin in 2027.
The Texans hit the road to take on the Cleveland Browns this Sunday at Huntington Bank Stadium on FOX. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Love it or hate it? Texans HC DeMeco Ryans weighs in on CFB Playoff expansion news
