Could a 24-team College Football Playoff completely change the future of the new PAC-12? In this episode of Pac-12 Daily, Christian Rauh breaks down the growing momentum behind College Football Playoff expansion and why the proposed format could either elevate or hurt conferences outside the Power Four.
The discussion dives into the American Football Coaches Association’s support for major postseason changes, including expanding the CFP field, eliminating conference championship games, and restructuring the college football calendar. The episode explores what those changes could mean for programs like Washington State, Boise State, Oregon State, San Diego State, and the rest of the rebuilt PAC-12 conference.
Would a larger playoff actually create more access for Group of Six schools, or would it simply give the SEC and Big Ten more spots? The show examines strength of schedule concerns, nonconference scheduling strategy, CFP resume building, and why Washington State’s brutal 2026 schedule could become the blueprint for future playoff contention.
Topics include:
- 24-team College Football Playoff expansion
- PAC-12 playoff chances in the new era
- Washington State football scheduling strategy
- Boise State and San Diego State CFP outlook
- SEC and Big Ten influence on playoff expansion
- Group of Six access concerns
- College football conference championship debate
- PAC-12 national relevance in 2026 and beyond
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