LThe NCAA just detonated the college football postseason. A 24-team playoff, and March Madness jumps to 76.
MTwenty-four teams? I thought twelve was already pushing it.
LEd Cleary posted on X there are not 24 teams that deserve a national championship shot. He wants a much smaller field.
MAnd I want a pony. More playoff games means more campuses hosting in December. That's not dilution, that's excitement.
LIt's a money grab, Marcus. Teams with a few losses shouldn't be one step from a title.
MSo you're on team Ed? That's rich coming from the guy who wants every bubble team in March.
LMarch Madness is different. College football is a whole different animal.
MESPN's reporting the board already approved top-eight byes and first-round campus sites.
LJason Collinsworth posted on X, "nobody asked for this," and then the NCAA says here's a bigger playoff and a bigger tournament. He nailed it.
MI saw the post. The soccer line is just him goofing around, but the numbers are accurate.
LThe point is, they keep expanding until the regular season feels like a qualifying round.
MThat's exactly backwards. More teams alive in November means more games matter, not fewer.
LNo, no, wait— you cannot tell me a team with a few losses deserves a bye. They didn't win their conference.
MThe NFL lets almost half the league into the playoffs, and nobody says the regular season is dead.
LThe NFL is not college. The schedules are completely different.
MAmsal Khimani posted on X that the NCAA ruined March Madness and college football, and blamed ESPN. That's the anger right there.
LHe's wrong about blaming ESPN alone. The conferences signed off because they want the cash.
MOh, so you're defending the suits now?
LI'm not defending them. I'm saying players get zero of this new money.
MAnd yet every fan base will still buy opening-round tickets.
LBecause they have no choice. That's how these TV deals work.
MRight, the fans are helpless victims. They definitely won't watch four extra playoff games.
LYou're laughing, but this kills the regular season. A team with a couple of losses can coast.
MA two-loss team is still fighting for a first-round bye. That's a real race.
LBye? The top eight get byes. So the ninth-best team gets a home game against the 24th. That's not a playoff, that's a participation trophy.
MIt's a playoff with underdog stories. That's what makes March Madness great.
LMarch Madness is one weekend of chaos. Football is a two-month grind. You can't just bolt that onto a 24-team bracket.
MYou could say the same about the NFL, and their wild-card weekend is perfect.
LThe NFL has 32 teams, not a hundred plus spread across five power conferences and a bunch of Group of Five schools.
MSo only the power conferences should decide the title? That's how we got the old BCS mess.
LNo, but eight or twelve made sense. Twenty-four is just excess.
MESPN reports it starts in 2026. The top eight seeds get byes, quarterfinals and semis at New Year's Six bowls.
LI know the format. I just disagree with the size.
MYou'll be the first one yelling at a 10-seed upset.
LMaybe. But I'll still say the regular season used to mean more.
MAnd now the last week of the season means more, because teams are fighting for hosting a first-round game.
LHosting a game nobody earned a right to be in.
MLet's be honest: you wanted Georgia to have a clearer path.
LOh, don't make it about Georgia. This is about the sport.
MIt's always about Georgia with you.
LIt's not! It's about not handing out a title shot to a four-loss team.
MThe last team in will probably have a few losses, not more. You're exaggerating.
LFine, three-loss mediocrity. Better?
MMuch better. Now you're just wrong with more confidence.
LI'm wrong? You think a 9-3 Sun Belt team can win four straight road games in December?
MI think they'll sell out their stadium and get one home game before reality hits. That's good for the sport.
LReality hit should happen in the regular season, not the playoff bracket.
MWe're going in circles. The vote is done, the money's here, and the first bracket will be must-watch.
LFine. I hate it, but I'll watch every game.
MThat's the spirit. 24 teams, one champion, and a whole lot of angry posts.
LAt least the replies will be entertaining.