The College Football Playoff is on track to expand to 24 teams in 2027, and Ole Miss coach Pete Golding has voiced his support for the change. The current 12-team format, which has been in place for two seasons, will double in size, potentially reshaping the postseason landscape.
The proposed expansion would eliminate the Power 4 conference championship games and move the start of the regular season up by a week. Golding said the move makes sense, especially after the SEC introduced a ninth conference game this season. He believes the expanded playoff will be "really healthy for college football."
"I think once we'd gone to the nine-(game) SEC model, you know, it was going to be extremely hard if you did not expand it with the caliber of teams," Golding said.
Ole Miss, currently ranked No. 7 with a 5-1 overall record and 3-1 in the SEC, is positioned well for the existing 12-team playoff midway through the season. Their next test comes on October 24 against No. 18 Texas, followed by a home game against No. 4 Georgia on November 7. These matchups could influence their playoff seeding and prospects.
The Rebels have a brief but notable history with the CFP. They made their first appearance last season after Golding was promoted to head coach following Lane Kiffin’s departure to LSU. Entering as the No. 6 seed, Ole Miss won a home playoff game against Tulane and upset No. 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl before falling 31-28 to No. 10 Miami in the semifinals. Since the CFP began in 2014, Ole Miss has finished in the top 24 of the rankings 12 times.
Criticism of the expansion has centered on concerns that it might lessen the importance of regular season games. Under the current system, two or three losses often eliminate a team from playoff contention, but with 24 teams, squads might enter the postseason with three or four defeats.
Golding addressed that concern by predicting a shift in scheduling strategies. He expects teams to arrange tougher, higher-profile matchups early in the season to maintain interest and competitive edge.
"Obviously I think they were concerned with watering down the regular season, so I do think you'll see some more openers, neutral sites vs. the top three conferences, in my opinion," Golding said.
The CFP expansion plan is still not officially finalized but is nearing agreement among stakeholders. Meanwhile, Ole Miss continues its campaign with a focus on maintaining its playoff position under the current format.
According to Yahoo Sports.