BIG 10 SQUAD: College Football Playoff Expansion is INEVITABLE | What this means for Michigan State

The Locked On Big Ten Squad dives into the inevitable expansion of the College Football Playoff, arguing that the current 12-team format is just the beginning of a much larger trend. Host Spencer McLaughlin and co-panelists debate the absurdity of expanding to 24, 68, or even 138 teams—suggesting a single-elimination gauntlet where every team plays week one and only the winners advance. They mock the idea of including high school teams like Belleville or UT Permian Basin, but also acknowledge the deeper issue: the NCAA and CFP are dragging out decisions while coaches, players, and fans face high-stakes seasons with shifting rules. The panel criticizes the lack of stability, calling it a 'guinea pig stage' that undermines the integrity of college football. Amid the chaos, they turn to Northwestern’s 2026 schedule—a brutal 11-game Big Ten stretch with a bye in week two—as a case study in how the expanded playoff could crush teams physically and mentally. Despite the difficulty, the group debates whether the Wildcats can hit 5.5 wins, with some betting on a 5-win ceiling due to a punishing schedule and early bye week. The episode blends satire with sharp criticism, revealing a growing frustration with the sport’s direction: expansion is inevitable, but the process is painfully slow and poorly managed.