Finebaum says a 24-team CFP would be the 'WORST DECISION' in college football 😱 | SportsCenter

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]coming from the role model herself. We are less than a 100red days from the start of the college football season, but the SEC spring meetings [music] fully underway in Dest Florida this week. And one of the topics already brought up on the eve of the annual meetings was the possible expansion of the playoff to 24 teams. SEC Commissioner Greg Seni said he did not quote anticipate any decisions on the college football playoff and made it clear that there's still time [music] for quote informed decision discussions.

[00:00:27]An informed discussion we will have now.

[00:00:29]We are not jealous at all. Joining us now from spring meetings is Heather Denich and Paul Finebomb. They're right from the beach. Heather, I'm going to start with you. Big 10 commissioner Tony Patiti has been slowly building consensus for a 2014 playoff. The ACC and Big 12 commissioners expressed support, but what's the SEC's position on it?

[00:00:50]Well, SEC Commissioner Greg Sanki and presidents and chancellors have said that their preference is 16, but Sanki said that he has not ruled out the possibility of 24 or 28. So, they're trying to figure that out this week.

[00:01:04]They're not in a rush to do it. But there are concerns here that a 24 team field would water down the field, that it would potentially devalue the regular season. And I think when you listen to players and coaches and athletic directors and everyone talk, when you have those high leverage games in November, if both of those teams know they're getting into the college football playoff, that changes the value of that late November game. So Seni said yesterday, what is the tipping point in terms of finding the right number?

[00:01:38]>> Paul, I don't know if I like you better with the shades on. I see you made just a quick costume change there. We're watching you, Paul.

[00:01:46]>> You know, [laughter] I mean, at the mouth of the South, I like the shades, but what do you make of the possibility of the college football playoff expanding to 24 teams?

[00:01:57]Well, Brian, I took some off because I want to make sure everybody understands my point here. This is one of the worst decisions, if it happens, in the history of college football. And I know that sounds hyperbolic, coming from me, of course, uh, but it makes little or no sense. It frankly doesn't make any sense. And it to me seems like because so much money is going in, this is one of the commissioners saying last week, we're spending so much, we need to get a return. That's not what this is about.

[00:02:24]This is not Little League where the seventh place team gets a trophy. I know I was on that seventh place team when I was seven years old. It's absurd to let an eight and four team that has no business being in into the playoff, but unfortunately it seems like we're trending in that direction.

[00:02:40]>> I mean, participation trophies still count, Paul. They count in our our book, especially here on Sports Center. But Lane Kein is not looking for a participation trophy. He's making his LAU debut at spring meetings after his exit from Miss. Heather, what are you paying most attention to regarding Kein?

[00:02:57]>> The seating chart. I want to know who he's sitting next to in this meetings because this can get a little bit chippy. I mean, look, there's just been some some picking at each other here in the SEC lately talking about basket weaving and you can get a degree from Miss, you know. So, I'm curious if there are any sparks that are going to be flying behind closed doors here when Kein sits next to Pete Golding, the Old Miss head coach, what those conversations are going to be like.

[00:03:23]Kippen is talking to us today around five o'clock central, so I'm sure we'll squeeze in as many questions as we can.

[00:03:31]Yeah. Okay, Paul, I want to get into a little game. We call it this or that.

[00:03:36]So, let's start with Lane Keifin. LSU and Texas, by the way. Which team you think is under more pressure this season?

[00:03:45]>> I'd love to put it on Lane Keifin because it's been we've been beating him up like a pinata the last few weeks, but I'm going with Texas because of Arch Manning. You can't waste one of the greatest players in college football history, at least namewise, and I think ultimately potential-wise, [music] and not compete more seriously for a national championship. Last year, Texas went 9 and three, didn't make the playoffs. They need to make the playoffs, and they need to make a long run like the championship game.

[00:04:14]>> All right, Heather, your turn. Which quarterback will have a better season, Gunnar Stockton or Marcel Reed?

[00:04:23]I'm gonna go with Gunnar Stockton because he was more clutch particularly in the fourth quarter last year. He had a total QBR of 86. He had 34 total touchdowns. He's got to get some more out of that deep ball. A lot of screen passes last year. Known as a game manager. Can he broaden that portfolio?

[00:04:43]Marcel Reed, I still have questions about his decision- making. The last two games in particular, no touchdowns, four interceptions. He also got sacked a [music] lot more in those last two games. So, I'm going with Stockton.

[00:04:55]>> Okay, Paul, let's stay with the quarterbacks. Who will be the more impactful newcomer? Is it Sam Levit [music] at LSU or Byron Brown who left South Florida for Auburn?

[00:05:07]>> It's Levit because he is on a potential national championship team. Brown would be happy, his team would be happy to make a bowl game, which they haven't had a winning record in six years. So, I think Levit uh has a lot of pressure on him, but he was also the biggest find in the portal. And Lane Keifin is a quarterback whisperer, and I expect them [music] to make the playoffs with Levit under under center.

[00:05:30]>> All right, Paul, business is over for now. You can throw the shades back on here for our goodbye. [laughter] >> I don't move I don't move as fast as I used to, but I got it. I wish you guys were here. It's It's so nice. I don't know what the weather is up there, but it's not this night.

[00:05:47]>> Want to be there in the hot weather.

[00:05:49][laughter] >> Paul, Heather, thank you so much.

[00:05:51]>> YOU [music] WANT THIS, YOU GOT THAT. NO WAY. WANT TO walk right past you. Run fast. Run fast while [music] you have a chance. Don't speak. I'm not crying at