Tony Petitti Champions Big Ten’s CFP Strategy: Celebrates 6-3 League Record as a Major Success

LAS VEGAS — Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti defended a bold new format for the College Football Playoff. His plan would expand the playoff to 16 teams, giving more automatic spots to the Big Ten and SEC.

On the first day of his conference’s media days, Petitti emphasized that his approach should focus on conference standings instead of rankings. He believes this change could make selection fairer and pave the way for leagues to hold their own playoff play-in games in early December.

“The Big Ten has always favored a system that rewards on-field performance,” Petitti said. “We aim to bridge the regular season to the postseason more effectively.”

For over a year, FBS commissioners have struggled to reach an agreement on the playoff size and format, especially with a new ESPN contract starting in 2026. Any changes must be finalized by December 1.

The Big Ten’s idea—a “4-4-2-2-1” model—gives four spots to the Big Ten and SEC, two each to the ACC and Big 12, and one to the top Group of 5 champion. Petitti publicly shared his proposal for the first time during this event, even though he briefly mentioned it in Spring 2024.

Initially, the Big Ten and SEC seemed on board with the proposal. However, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey recently expressed differing opinions during his conference’s media days. This difference highlights how negotiations can quickly shift in sports.

Meanwhile, the ACC and Big 12 support a different approach called the “5+11” model. This would allocate spots to the top five conference champions and 11 at-large bids. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark questioned why anyone would limit his team’s chances of participating in the playoffs.

Petitti reiterated that the Big Ten and SEC have significant influence over future changes to the playoff and selection process. He mentioned a willingness to consider ideas from other conferences but warned that proposals increasing reliance on the selection committee might struggle to gain support.

One of the exciting elements of Petitti’s vision is the introduction of conference play-in games. Instead of just the top two teams facing off, the plan would allow matchups like 3 vs. 6 and 4 vs. 5, with winning teams earning automatic playoff spots. He believes fans would love this added layer of competition. For instance, last year, under this system, Iowa could have entered the playoff after finishing 6-3 in the conference.

When a reporter voiced concern about including a four-loss team in the playoff, Petitti pushed back. He argued that a 6-3 record in the Big Ten is impressive and shouldn’t be overlooked due to an off game in non-conference play. “Teams in other sports often make the playoffs even if they stumble in one game,” he pointed out. “Let’s settle it on the field rather than in meetings.”

The six Big Ten coaches who spoke at the event backed Petitti’s plan. Ohio State coach Ryan Day raised a valid concern: without guaranteed playoff spots, schools may hesitate to challenge themselves with tough out-of-conference games. He suggested that if automatic spots are in play, adding a 10th game against a Power 4 team makes more sense.

This discussion sheds light on the ever-evolving landscape of college football and how conferences adapt their strategies. As strategies shift, fan engagement could increase, potentially shaping the future of college sports.

For more details on college football playoff structures, you can check this report from ESPN.

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