MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — College Football Playoff leaders are once again debating the size of the postseason.
his time the discussion has real meaning for Ole Miss fans who want the Rebels to stay in the national conversation.
According to reporting by ESPN’s Heather Dinich, there is growing discussion around expanding the playoff to 16 teams as early as the 2026 season.
Support exists among conference leaders, but the outcome is far from certain.
The SEC and Big Ten commissioners hold the most influence, and without agreement between those two conferences, the playoff is expected to remain at 12 teams.
The deadline to finalize the format is Jan. 23. That date was already pushed back once to give leaders more time to negotiate.
The College Football Playoff’s annual meeting is scheduled for Jan. 18 in Miami, the day before the national championship game. Expansion discussions are expected to be a central topic.
Two formats are under review. One would expand the field to 16 teams, with five automatic bids for conference champions and 11 at-large selections.
Another proposal would grow the playoff to 24 teams, though that option currently has less support.
For Ole Miss, which recently reached the playoff for the first time, the outcome of these talks could determine whether that appearance becomes a regular expectation or remains a rare achievement.
SEC, Big Ten hold key to expansion decision
Despite input from other conferences, the SEC and Big Ten remain the deciding voices in playoff discussions.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti are seen as the key figures whose agreement is necessary for any change.
Sources familiar with the talks told ESPN that if those two leaders cannot reach a compromise by the deadline, the playoff will stay at 12 teams.
One point of disagreement involves long-term planning. The Big Ten is interested in connecting approval of a 16-team playoff to a future expansion to 24 teams.
The SEC has shown more interest in focusing on a 16-team model without committing to additional expansion.
Some leaders have expressed concern that a 24-team playoff could reduce the importance of the regular season.
As a result, the 16-team option is viewed as the most realistic path forward, even if consensus has not yet been reached.
If talks stall, the Rebels would continue competing in the same 12-team format that recently opened the door for Ole Miss.
What expansion could mean for Ole Miss
For Ole Miss supporters, playoff expansion is about more than numbers and brackets.
Making the College Football Playoff once was a program milestone. Many fans now want the Rebels to be part of the discussion every season, not just in special years.
A 16-team field would provide more access for strong teams that fall short of winning a conference championship, particularly in leagues like the SEC.
That possibility resonates in Oxford, where schedules are demanding and losses are hard to avoid.
At the same time, keeping the playoff at 12 teams means the margin for error remains thin, especially for teams fighting through deep conference schedules.
The current format has already expanded opportunities compared to the four-team playoff, but consistency remains difficult.
For the Rebels, expansion could mean turning a breakthrough into a standard expectation rather than a rare event.
Decision timeline keeps attention on Miami meeting
The Jan. 18 meeting in Miami is expected to clarify where leaders stand, even if a final decision is not reached immediately.
If agreement is reached by Jan. 23, a new playoff format could be approved for the 2026 season.
If not, the 12-team playoff will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
Either outcome reflects a sport still adjusting to change and trying to balance access with tradition.
For Ole Miss fans, the stakes are clear. Expansion offers a wider door into the postseason, while a delay keeps the Rebels fighting for limited space.
The direction of the playoff now depends on whether college football’s most powerful conferences can find common ground.
Three key takeaways
- College Football Playoff leaders are discussing expanding the field to 16 teams as early as 2026.
- The SEC and Big Ten commissioners must agree for expansion to move forward.
- Ole Miss fans are watching closely, hoping a larger playoff keeps the Rebels in the conversation each season.
