Illini’s Bielema favors 24-team playoff for college football

The Big Ten reportedly wants to double the size of the College Football Playoff, from 12 teams to 24.

During a visit to Wrigley Field this week, Illinois coach Bret Bielema indicated he's on board with the rest of the conference.

“A 24-team playoff I think will actually enhance the regular season,” he said. “You look at a game like us at Wisconsin a year ago, Wisconsin beat us. It kind of knocked us out of that conversation. At the end of the year, we play Northwestern, that game now, for them or us, could be to get in the playoffs.

It would be a big change but would bring FBS more in line with the other levels of college football. FCS has had a 24-team playoff for years, while Division III recently expanded to 40.

“If we go to 24, probably the two first rounds will be (on campus) home games,” Bielema added. “To have a home game in Champaign-Urbana in the middle of December would be pretty awesome, right?

“So I think a 24-team playoff format would actually increase the value of the regular season, not decrease it. That's just a narrative someone wants to put out there. I'd say there would be more of an emphasis on teams that are in that 9, 10, 11 wins (range).”

The Illini finished 9-4 last season with a win over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. The 2026 schedule offers some decent possibilities, with every game shaping up as a likely win or toss-up, with the exception of at Ohio State and Oregon at home.