Big Ten backs 24-team CFP, calls for schedule overhaul
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- Big Ten invited reporters to its spring meetings at a Southern California resort, a first in years that mirrors the SEC’s media‑heavy gatherings.
- Jedd Fisch highlighted that the past six national championship contenders—Washington, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Indiana and Miami—were not SEC schools, urging broader coverage of the Big Ten’s perspective.
- P.J. Fleck said the 24‑team CFP has “tremendous steam and power behind it,” backed by all 18 Big Ten head coaches seeking more meaningful November games.
- Ryan Day argued the season must be pushed up to finish by the first week of January, a shift that would require eliminating conference title games and moving the start to Week 0 for a 24‑team CFP.
- punting alignment rule passed this year, sparking heated debate among coaches at the meeting.
Why it matters: Big Ten schools will have more high‑profile November matchups, while conference championship games would have to be eliminated and the season would need to finish by early January.
