Tennessee Coach Endorses 24-Team College Football Playoff

Volunteers' Head Coach Josh Heupel Supports Playoff Expansion

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel recently voiced his support for expanding the College Football Playoff from 12 to 24 teams. Heupel believes the larger format "probably makes the most sense" as college football continues to evolve. The Volunteers have appeared in the playoff just once since its inception in 2014, but have frequently finished in the top 25, which would likely make them a consistent playoff team under an expanded 24-team format.

Why it matters

Playoff expansion has been a heavily debated topic in college football, with the current 12-team format drawing criticism over scheduling, seeding, and committee selections. Heupel's endorsement as an SEC coach adds to the growing support for expansion, which could significantly impact the Volunteers' postseason prospects going forward.

The details

The College Football Playoff has become a source of major controversy in recent years, with discussions around scheduling, seeding, and committee selections dominating much of the discourse in the sport. While the 12-team format was recently reaffirmed through the 2026 season, the idea of expanding to 24 teams has been proposed, particularly by the Big Ten conference.

  • Tennessee will begin its 2026 college football season on Saturday, September 5, against the Furman Paladins.
  • The College Football Playoff's current 12-team format will remain in place through the 2026 season.

The players

Josh Heupel

The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers football team, who recently voiced his support for expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams.

Tennessee Volunteers

The college football team that has appeared in the College Football Playoff just once since its inception in 2014, but has frequently finished in the top 25 rankings.

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What they’re saying

“The way college football is constantly changing, that probably makes the most sense.”

— Josh Heupel, Head Coach, Tennessee Volunteers (On3)

What’s next

The debate over College Football Playoff expansion is expected to continue, with various conferences and coaches weighing in on the potential format changes.

The takeaway

Heupel's endorsement of a 24-team playoff format adds to the growing support for expansion, which could significantly impact the postseason prospects for programs like Tennessee that have frequently been on the cusp of the current 12-team field.