After much deliberation and planning, college football playoff commissioners are contemplating expanding the tournament format to include 16 teams beginning in 2026, Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel and Andy Staples discussed. With the current 12-team format set to debut this season, discussions around the playoffs' future have already begun.

The proposed format suggests eliminating automatic bids in favor of 16 at-large bids, aiming to provide greater access while maintaining the same number of rounds as the 12-team model. By removing automatic qualifiers, the playoffs could offer a more subjective and competitive element, focusing on conference pride and deserving teams.

Furthermore, the discussion touches on playoff sites, advocating for on-campus games until the national title game or suggesting the Rose and Sugar Bowls become permanent semifinal sites on Jan. 1. The idea is to prioritize the tradition and excitement of college football games on campus over neutral sites.

One significant change proposed is the elimination of conference championship games, which the commissioners might find contentious due to the lucrative TV revenue they generate, particularly for the Big Ten and SEC. Yet, moving to a 16-team format could potentially offset any losses from removing conference title games by adding more revenue-generating playoff matchups.

In addition, the debate also addresses the early National Signing Day, with suggestions to revert to a single signing day in February rather than the current two-day system, emphasizing the importance of making informed decisions both for coaches and prospective student-athletes.

While these proposed changes aim to streamline the college football playoff system and make it more exciting for fans and teams alike, the road to implementing them may involve complex negotiations and compromises among the stakeholders.