CFB insider weighs in on Ryan Day's pitch for 4 automatic Big Ten qualifiers amid massive changes in College Football Playoff

College football is ushering in a new era with the recent changes in the playoff format. From a traditional four-team postseason bracket to compete for the national championship, it expanded to 12 teams in 2024, with the conference champions making their way to the second round after a first-round bye. However, things have changed a bit this season.

According to the latest discussion between athletic directors and coaches in the spring meetings, the 12-team format will no longer have conference champions winning first-round byes. But the spots will be filled as per the selection committee’s rankings.

Last week, Ohio State coach Ryan Day made a public pitch on behalf of the Big Ten that the conference must have at least four teams in the College Football Playoff. This could be a possibility if the current bracket expands to 16 teams. Insider Greg McElroy shared his analysis and mentioned that Day was not wrong.

“I completely agree with everything he said. In the event in which you don't have those automatic qualifiers and you need to have the best win-loss record, he's 100% right,” McElroy said on Monday via ESPN's "Always College Football." [Timestamp - 28:00]

“Why would you risk playing a great team in the non conference? They could expose you, could beat you. If they beat you, now that's one more loss. Had you played a powder puff team that you're sitting there at, say, 11 to one as opposed to 10 and two, or 10 and two as opposed to nine and three. So yeah, your win loss record looks a little better.

“And based on what we learned last year, doesn't matter who you play in the non conference. Look at Indiana. If you have a great win loss record, you're going to make the college football playoff. So everything that Ryan day says, I agree with from his vantage point,” he said.

Ryan Day could benefit from 16-team college football playoff format

While the current model restricts only 12 teams, multiple Big Ten teams will get a chance to compete for the championship title if the bracket gets extended to 16 programs. Having 18 teams in the league and playing 9 conference games in the regular season stretches the schedule for Ohio State compared to rivals in the SEC.

Moreover, Ryan Day's Buckeyes can afford to lose non-conference games, especially to a tough opponent like Texas in the season opener. As of now, there hasn't been any formal announcement of this model. It is still a proposition, with Commissioner Tony Petitti vying to increase the chances of Big Ten teams making the postseason.