The College Football Playoff will remain as is for the 2020 season, and will not be expanded from four to eight teams.
Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott had been pushing for the College Football Playoff to be expanded because of COVID-19’s impact on the 2020 season. However, that proposal was officially denied on Wednesday, according to USA Today.
“After thorough, respectful and civil discussion, they decided that the best outcome would be to make no changes in the format, because it would have been such a significant change and would come with so many challenges, especially given that the season is already underway,” College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock told USA TODAY Sports.
Michigan State will kickoff the 2020 season on Oct. 24 against Rutgers at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans will play an eight-game regular-season schedule with an additional division-crossover game on Dec. 19.
The Spartans aren’t expected to contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff this year, but this news could mean they’ll remain as one of two teams to ever make the playoff out of the Big Ten. Michigan State and Ohio State are the only Big Ten teams to ever make the College Football Playoff, and the Buckeyes are once again the favorites out of the Big Ten to reach the playoff. With the news of the playoff staying at four teams, it is unlikely the conference will get a second team to qualify so the only way into the College Football Playoff is by knocking off the Buckeyes — which appears to be a very tough task.
Click here to read the full story from USA Today on the decision to not expand the College Football Playoff in 2020.
