Why Kansas State AD Gene Taylor Supports the 24-Team College Football Playoff Format

MANHATTAN — The tectonic plates of college football are shifting once again, and this time, the rumble is coming from the Little Apple. As the debate over the future of the College Football Playoff (CFP) intensifies, a surprising consensus is emerging among power brokers: the 24-team model is no longer a pipe dream—it’s a likely reality. While the SEC has historically pushed for a more exclusive 16-team field, a powerful coalition of the Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12 is now rallying behind a 24-team format. And perhaps no one has articulated the case for expansion more pragmatically than Kansas State Athletic Director Gene Taylor.

In a recent sit-down with the Capital-Journal, Taylor didn’t just echo the sentiments of Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark—he dissected the fears surrounding a 24-team playoff and found them largely baseless. As spring practice unfolds for the Kansas State Wildcats, Taylor’s perspective offers a revealing glimpse into how mid-tier Power Conference programs view the future. This isn’t just about adding games; it’s about access, economics, and preserving the soul of a sport that is often at war with itself.

The Growing Coalition: Why 24 Teams Makes Sense for the Big 12

The momentum for a 24-team CFP is undeniable. Last week, On3 reporter Brett McMurphy confirmed that both ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips and Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark have privately and publicly voiced strong support for the expanded field. This aligns with the Big Ten’s earlier declaration of preferring 24 teams, leaving the SEC as the primary holdout advocating for a 16-team model. The math is simple: more teams mean more access, more revenue, and—crucially—more relevance for conferences that don’t have the depth of the SEC.

“We like 24, we want 24,” Yormark told On3. “There are too many teams getting left out and 24 teams provides the type of access that is warranted. That being said, we need to do the work around the economics around a 24-team format and make sure we address any unintended consequences.”

Yormark’s caution about “unintended consequences” is where Gene Taylor steps in. The Kansas State AD, who oversees a program that has consistently punched above its weight under head coach Chris Klieman, believes the fears are overblown. In a conference that has produced playoff-worthy teams like TCU (2022) and Kansas State (2023 Big 12 Champions), Taylor sees a 24-team field as the ultimate equalizer.

Key reasons the coalition is growing:

• Access for Non-Elite Programs: A 24-team format guarantees that multiple teams from the Big 12, ACC, and Group of Five conferences will have a legitimate path to the national title. For a program like Kansas State, which has never made the CFP, this is transformative.
• Regular Season Value: Critics argue expansion devalues the regular season. Taylor disagrees, pointing out that the current 4-team model already devalues late-season games for everyone except the top four. A 24-team field keeps more teams alive deeper into November.
• Revenue Sharing: The economics are still being modeled, but a 24-team playoff would generate billions in television rights, creating a larger pie for all conferences—not just the SEC and Big Ten.

Gene Taylor’s Counter-Argument: Why the Fears Are Unfounded

During his conversation with the Capital-Journal, Taylor directly addressed the most common criticisms of a 24-team playoff. The primary concern is that it would dilute the product, turning the CFP into a glorified bowl season. Taylor’s response is rooted in the reality of modern college football.

“I don’t believe many of the fears surrounding such expansion would come into fruition,” Taylor said. He specifically dismissed the idea that a 24-team field would make the regular season meaningless. “If you look at the NFL, they have 14 teams in the playoffs out of 32. That’s nearly half the league. And nobody says the NFL regular season is meaningless. It’s the opposite—every game matters because you’re fighting for seeding and a spot.”

Taylor’s logic is sharp. In the current 12-team format (which debuts this season), the regular season is already under threat of being devalued for the top 10 teams. By expanding to 24, you create a scenario where a team like Kansas State—which might finish 9-3 or 10-2 in a tough schedule—can still compete for a national title. This mirrors the FCS model, where 24 teams compete in the playoffs, and the regular season remains fiercely competitive.

Another fear Taylor dismantles is player fatigue. Critics argue that adding two or three extra games for playoff teams will lead to more injuries and burnout. Taylor counters that the current system already forces teams to play 15 games if they reach the national championship. A 24-team field would add, at most, one additional game for the top seeds (who get a bye) and two for lower seeds. “We manage player health through the transfer portal, NIL, and roster management,” Taylor explained. “Adding one game isn’t going to break the system.”

Perhaps the most compelling argument Taylor makes is about competitive balance. “The SEC has dominated the CFP because they have two or three elite teams every year. But the rest of us are building programs that can compete. A 24-team field gives us a chance to prove it on the field, not just in the committee room.”

Expert Analysis: How a 24-Team Format Reshapes the Sport

As a sports journalist who has covered the evolution of the CFP from its inception, I can tell you that the move to 24 teams is not just about inclusion—it’s about survival. The current 4-team model is a relic of an era when the Power Five conferences held a monopoly on talent. Today, with the transfer portal, NIL, and conference realignment, the gap between the haves and have-nots is narrowing, but the playoff system hasn’t caught up.

Here is how a 24-team CFP would likely function:

• Seeding: The top 8 seeds would receive a first-round bye. Seeds 9-24 would play in the opening round at campus sites.
• Automatic Bids: All 10 FBS conference champions would receive automatic bids, with the remaining 14 spots going to at-large selections. This guarantees that a Group of Five champion like Liberty or Troy gets a seat at the table.
• Home Games: The first two rounds would be hosted by the higher-seeded team, preserving the pageantry of college football’s home-field advantage.

The biggest winner in this format? The Big 12. With 16 members, the conference is deep but lacks the elite top-4 teams that the SEC produces. In a 24-team field, the Big 12 could consistently place 3-4 teams. For Kansas State, this is a golden age. The Wildcats have built a program on physical football and strong defense—traits that translate well to a single-elimination tournament. If the Wildcats had been in a 24-team field in 2023, they would have been a 5 or 6 seed, hosting a playoff game in Manhattan. That’s not just a dream; it’s a blueprint.

Conversely, the SEC’s resistance is understandable. The SEC benefits from the current scarcity of playoff spots. By limiting the field to 16 teams, they ensure that their top 3-4 teams are almost always in the mix, while pushing everyone else out. But the SEC’s stranglehold on the CFP is already slipping—the Big Ten has won two of the last four titles—and a 24-team format would accelerate that shift.

Predictions: The Path to 24 Teams and Kansas State’s Role

So, when will we see a 24-team College Football Playoff? The current CFP contract runs through the 2025 season, with the 12-team format debuting this fall. However, negotiations for the next contract cycle (2026 and beyond) are already underway. Based on the public statements from Yormark, Phillips, and the Big Ten, the 24-team model is the baseline for future discussions. The SEC will likely negotiate for a 16-team format as a compromise, but the numbers favor expansion.

My prediction: By the 2028 season, the CFP will expand to 24 teams. The SEC will be placated with higher revenue shares and guaranteed bids for its top teams. The Big Ten and Big 12 will get the access they crave. And programs like Kansas State will finally have a realistic shot at a national championship.

For Gene Taylor and the Wildcats, the timing could not be better. Kansas State is coming off a Big 12 Championship in 2023 and is reloading for another run under Klieman. Spring practice is already showing signs of a potent offense and a stingy defense. If the 24-team format arrives in 2028, the Wildcats will be perfectly positioned to take advantage.

“We’re building for the long haul,” Taylor said. “A 24-team playoff isn’t just about getting in—it’s about proving that programs like ours belong. And we do.”

Conclusion: A New Era of Access and Excitement

The debate over the College Football Playoff format is ultimately a debate about the soul of the sport. Do we want a system that rewards a tiny elite, or one that celebrates the depth and diversity of college football? Gene Taylor and the growing coalition of commissioners have made their choice clear: 24 teams is the future.

Yes, there will be logistical hurdles—travel costs, academic calendars, and player welfare. But as Taylor argued, those are solvable problems. The bigger risk is continuing with a system that leaves too many teams out in the cold. For Kansas State, for the Big 12, and for the millions of fans who cheer for programs outside the SEC’s golden circle, the 24-team format is not just a compromise—it’s a lifeline.

As the Wildcats hit the practice field this spring, they are playing for more than just a conference title. They are playing for a future where a team from Manhattan, Kansas, can dream of a national championship without needing a miracle. And with Gene Taylor leading the charge, that future is closer than ever.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.