Today, we’re highlighting the narratives that College Football Playoff hopefuls are selling this preseason. Some of these are worth buying into. Some are not.

The College Football Playoff will be 12 teams for the 2025 football season. But leaders in the sport are debating what to do for 2026 and beyond. That could include expansion to 14 or 16 teams.

The SEC and Big Ten wield most of the power in college football, but neither can do it alone. If the Big Two can’t agree, the playoff format likely will remain at 12 teams into 2026.