Episode Details

Penn State football could face a very different College Football Playoff standard if expansion reaches 24 teams. On this Locked On crossover, Zach Seyko and Jacob Goins react to ESPN’s criticism of a 24-team CFP model and debate what it would mean for Penn State, Indiana, the Big Ten, and the future of college football.

Topics include Penn State’s playoff expectations, Matt Campbell’s pressure in an expanded field, whether the CFP committee should go away, how conference schedules could change, why rivalry games may lose or gain value, and whether a Big Ten football tournament could actually solve part of the problem. The conversation also touches on Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, the Power Four, Group of Six programs, conference title games, bowl games, and the future of regular-season stakes.

For Penn State fans, the biggest question is simple: if the playoff grows, is there any excuse for Penn State to miss it? Expansion may create more access, but it also creates a new level of accountability for programs with Big Ten resources and national expectations.

Drop your thoughts in the comments: would you rather see a 24-team College Football Playoff, a smaller playoff, or a Big Ten tournament-style format?

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0:00 ESPN Pushes Back on a 24-Team CFP
0:53 Penn State and Indiana’s Playoff Standard
1:49 Why Zach Is Open to CFP Expansion
3:42 Jacob’s Case Against More