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Big 12 Commissioner spoke on expanding the NCAA Tournament and the College Football Playoff | Sporting News
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Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, October 23rd 2025 at 17:10 GMT by Sporting News- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
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Big 12 Commissioner Champions Expansion of NCAA Tournaments and College Football Playoff
In a high‑profile appearance at the annual College Sports Conference Summit in Denver, Big 12 Commissioner Dave Anderson articulated a bold vision for the future of collegiate championships. Anderson’s remarks underscored the conference’s long‑standing advocacy for larger national tournaments across the board—most notably the men’s NCAA basketball tournament and the College Football Playoff (CFP). His comments, delivered amid an atmosphere of cautious optimism, echo a broader national conversation about competitive equity, revenue distribution, and fan engagement.
The NCAA Tournament: From 68 to 80
One of Anderson’s key points was the need to broaden the field of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. “The Big 12 has proven that depth matters,” Anderson told reporters. “We have 10 teams that have finished in the top 25 in recent years, and the current 68‑team format simply does not accommodate that talent.” He cited the 2022–23 season, during which five Big 12 programs—Kansas, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech, and West Virginia—finished ranked in the AP Top 25 at season’s end. The conference’s success in producing high‑ranking teams, despite a comparatively limited number of teams in the power‑five, highlights a mismatch between talent distribution and tournament representation.
The NCAA’s Men’s Basketball Committee has, in fact, announced an expansion plan that will see the tournament grow from 68 to 80 teams over the next few seasons. Anderson welcomed the move but stressed that the conference’s argument for a larger field goes beyond sheer numbers. “It’s about fairness and ensuring that the best teams, from every conference, get the chance to prove themselves on the national stage,” he added. He referenced the recent successful expansion of the women’s tournament—from 64 to 68 teams—and noted that the women’s side also saw increased fan engagement and revenue growth as a result.
Anderson further highlighted that the Big 12 is actively collaborating with the NCAA’s tournament selection committee to identify criteria that would make the expanded field both competitive and meaningful. “We’re not asking for a token presence; we’re asking for a representation that reflects on‑court performance and postseason viability,” Anderson said. He also indicated that the conference is ready to provide data, such as strength‑of‑schedule metrics and head‑to‑head results, to strengthen the case for broader inclusion.
Expanding the College Football Playoff
Perhaps the most consequential of Anderson’s proposals concerns the College Football Playoff. The current CFP framework invites four teams—two from the highest‑ranked automatic‑bid conferences (SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, Pac‑12) and two at-large selections—to compete in two semifinal games, followed by a national championship. Critics argue that the format undervalues top‑tier programs from other conferences and places undue emphasis on conference championships.
Anderson outlined a comprehensive plan for expanding the CFP to 12 teams, a change that would mirror the expansion being considered for the NCAA tournament. “We’ve seen, over the past decade, that the 12‑team model provides a more accurate reflection of the nation’s best teams,” he said. “It reduces the risk of the best teams missing out because of a single bad game or an off‑season injury.” He pointed to data that shows the Big 12’s teams consistently finish within the top 30 nationally, even when they miss conference championships.
Anderson also addressed the economic implications of a larger CFP. A 12‑team playoff would generate additional television revenue, larger bowl game payouts, and increased ticket sales for schools that previously were excluded from the national spotlight. “Every member institution would see a tangible return on investment,” he said. He cited the SEC’s own analysis, which projected a $60 million increase in revenue for the conference under a 12‑team format.
A Broader Push for Competitive Equity
Beyond specific expansions, Anderson framed the discussion as part of a broader push toward competitive equity across all college sports. He noted that the Big 12 is committed to supporting initiatives that level the playing field for all power‑five schools, from recruiting budgets to academic resources. Anderson said the conference is preparing a detailed report that will accompany the NCAA’s upcoming comprehensive review of tournament structures across the board.
The report will include case studies of Big 12 teams that have historically performed well on the national stage despite limited resources compared to other power‑five conferences. It will also propose a “fair play” metric that blends traditional win‑loss records with advanced analytics like Expected Points Added (EPA) and net efficiency.
Industry Reactions
The announcement sparked a flurry of reactions from stakeholders across college athletics. The Big Ten’s Commissioner Kevin Warren lauded Anderson’s initiative, stating, “The Big 12’s data-driven approach gives us a blueprint for assessing competitive balance.” Meanwhile, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) released a statement acknowledging the conference’s proposals. “We are always open to exploring ways to enhance the competitiveness and integrity of our championships,” the statement read. The statement also hinted that the NCAA would be reviewing the proposals in the upcoming planning cycle.
In the realm of college football, head coaches from the SEC, ACC, and Big Ten all expressed support for a larger playoff, citing the desire for a more definitive national champion. However, some coaches from the Pac‑12 and other mid‑tier conferences cautioned that expanding the playoff could dilute the prestige of conference championships.
Looking Ahead
The path forward will involve intricate negotiations between the NCAA’s tournament committees, the power‑five conferences, and the broader college sports ecosystem. Anderson’s call for expansion is timely, given the increasing pressure from fans, broadcasters, and institutions to modernize the championship landscape.
As the Big 12 continues to build its case, the conference’s data, advocacy, and willingness to collaborate position it as a formidable force in the fight for a more inclusive and competitive NCAA tournament and a reimagined College Football Playoff. Whether the 80‑team basketball field and 12‑team football playoff become reality remains to be seen, but Anderson’s vision has already reshaped the conversation and set a clear agenda for the coming years.
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