Urban Meyer Has Changed His Opinion On College Football Playoff Expansion

Urban Meyer has softened his stance on an expanded College Football Playoff despite still resenting one aspect of the larger field.

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The CFP jumped from four to 12 teams for the 2024 season and is nearing a deal to double to 24 in 2027. Many critics won’t support an even larger playoff pool, but Meyer doesn’t hate the larger CFP as much as he expected.

“At first I couldn’t stand the idea,” Meyer said on The Triple Option podcast. “I just thought you would dilute the product, but what I’m witnessing this year, and we’re all learning, is that the parity is unbelievable.”

However, Meyer hates that a 24-team CFP is poised to eliminate conference championship games. The former Florida and Ohio State head coach believes axing those games will be a huge loss to the sport.

“The only concern I have, and I’ll keep saying this as long as I’m around, those who say that conference championship games are not important, I will say never played in it, never coached in it, and never won a ring,” Meyer said. “I think conference championship games are one of the most exciting things that have ever happened in my lifetime and certainly for my players.”

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More on CFP expansion

With so many teams competing in the College Football Playoff, there won’t be much time or need to hold conference championship games.

Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported that an expected deal would eliminate conference title games, moving up the Heisman Trophy ceremony and annual Army/Navy game to the first week of December. The first round would start the second week of December, with weeknight games possible.

Not that they’d need them, but the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and SEC champions will receive automatic bids with the highest-ranked Group of Six champion. Tiebreakers may not even be necessary with 24 teams making the cut.

However, a turbulent season has Meyer hopeful that a larger CFP field won’t water down the postseason bracket too much. Only five power programs (none in the SEC) remain undefeated, setting the stage for a wide-open selection process.

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This story was originally published October 20, 2026 at 12:46 PM.