Iowa Football Fans Should Brace for a 24-Team Playoff That Won't Fix Anything
As college football leaders push for a 24-team College Football Playoff, Iowa fans have good reason to be skeptical. The expansion, driven by money and power conferences, threatens to dilute the sport while leaving the Hawkeyes and other mid-tier programs in an awkward spot.
Since the playoff expanded from four to 12 teams a few years ago, the push for even more has never stopped. Now, with the FIFA Men's World Cup expanding and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips publicly backing a 24-team model at his conference's Kickoff event this week, the idea is gaining steam again.
Most fans immediately see through the hype. They recognize this is a money grab, not a move to improve the game. And they are right. But here is the honest truth: a 24-team playoff could actually work if done the right way. The problem is, it almost certainly won't be.
What a Fair 24-Team Playoff Would Look Like
In an ideal world, every conference champion from the SEC to the MAC would get an automatic bid. Yes, a team like Western Michigan at 11-2 might lose in the first round to a 10-3 power conference squad. But giving every FBS team a legitimate path to a national title would fix many of the sport's biggest problems.
For at-large bids, the system would limit how many mediocre power conference teams sneak in. Last year, the final at-large team under this model would have been No. 18 Michigan, with the Pac-12 now back to full strength. No team ranked below that had a serious claim to a championship. And honestly, seeing a MAC champion try its luck is more interesting than watching an 8-4 Iowa team stumble through a first-round loss.
On-campus playoff games through the final or at least the semifinals would also be a huge upgrade. The current model, with three rounds of neutral-site bowl games, has been a letdown for fans craving real home-field atmosphere.
The Reality: A Mess for Fans, a Payday for Power Conferences
None of that will happen. The actual format will likely be the 24 highest-ranked teams, period. That means okay but not great power conference teams will cash big checks for losing 24-6 to other solid but not championship-caliber opponents. Many games will stay at neutral sites, robbing fans of the excitement of campus environments.
The SEC and Big Ten will get richer. Everyone else, including Iowa, will be left to wonder what could have been.
For Hawkeye fans, the expansion raises real questions. Will Iowa ever be more than a fringe playoff team? Under the current 12-team model, an 8-4 record might not even get them in. Under 24 teams, they would likely make the field but face an uphill battle against deeper, more talented rosters from the SEC and Big Ten elite.
Iowa's strength has always been development, discipline, and a strong culture. But in a playoff system that rewards depth and star power, those qualities only go so far. The Hawkeyes need to recruit at a higher level and adapt to the new reality if they want to compete for a national title.
What This Means for Iowa's College Football Future
The playoff expansion is coming, whether fans like it or not. The question is whether it will make the sport better or just more commercial. For Iowa, the answer is mixed. More teams means more chances to make the field. But it also means the path to a championship gets longer and harder.
Iowa fans should pay attention to how the final format shakes out. If the power conferences get their way, the Hawkeyes could be stuck in a system that benefits the rich and leaves everyone else fighting for scraps. The best move for Iowa is to keep building depth, keep winning in the trenches, and hope the playoff model eventually includes a fairer path for teams like them.
Until then, enjoy the regular season. The playoff might not be what anyone hoped for.