Any significant change generally comes with strong opposition, especially in an institution as tied to tradition as college football. That being said, the expansion to a 24-team College Football Playoff, expected to be approved for the 2027 season, is getting absolutely FRIED.
The latest to lambaste the idea was Ball State head coach Mike Uremovich, who focused his skepticism on the entities responsible for bringing the 24-team playoff together.
“My mom told me not to say anything that’s not going to be nice about anybody,” Uremovich said when asked about the 24-team playoff. “The only thing I’ll say on that is — if you look at our country right now, the two organizations that are the most dysfunctional in the entire world that are led by a lot of incompetent people who only look out for themselves is the people running college football and the United States Congress.
“Those are the two groups we’re counting on to make this right. I don’t have a lot of faith that they’re going to make it any better.”
Oh my. Tell us how you really feel.
It’s interesting that Uremovich used his platform to go after the entire mechanism rather than pick apart the specific downside of expanding from 12 to 24 teams, like other coaches have done.
Nick Saban expressed concerns about the number of games the athletes would have to play. Nevada’s Jeff Choate thinks it would devalue the regular season. Miami’s Mario Cristobal thinks 24 teams is “just a lot.” Pittsburgh’s Pat Narduzzi hopes it doesn’t eliminate conference championship games.
One coach who matched, or exceeded, Uremovich’s fiery take was Central Michigan’s Matt Drinkall, who said — well, why don’t you just read it:
“Conference realignment, eligibility, paying players, transfer policies … none of it’s good. None of it is in the best interest of the student-athlete, none of it’s in the best interest of the sport. It’s just like everybody went nuts at once.
“And it’s just been a downward spiral that is nonstop until it’s going to be a smoldering dumpster fire left like the Truffula trees and the Lorax. Like they’re going to wring this sport out for every cent they can as long as they can and prostitute the sport for financial gain.”
Despite the passion of select opposing voices — and they sure are loud — the American Football Coaches Association voted earlier this year to recommend the “maximum number of participants” to college leaders, and it looks like the 24-team playoff will be a reality next season.