Skip to content

Harbaugh advocates for 16-team playoff system

Matthew Emmons / USA TODAY Sports

Count Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh among those in favor of significantly expanding the four-team College Football Playoff.

Harbaugh, whose Wolverines were not in Tuesday's top-25 rankings, appeared on the "Jamie and Stoney Show" on 97.1 The Ticket on Tuesday with an ideal number in mind.

"I would change it to 16 teams," Harbaugh said, as per Will Burchfield of CBS Detroit. "FCS, they've got a great system. It's been in place for many years."

The FCS system actually features 24 teams with 10 automatically qualifying and 14 receiving at-large bids. The playoffs begin in the last week of November with last year's championship being played on January 7th.

The common issue that critics raise when discussing playoff expansion is the amount of games teams would have to play, but Harbaugh has already considered that.

"If not 16, then 12. It makes all the sense in the world," Harbaugh said. "You've got the best way to do it, a playoff. The argument is, 'Well they would have to play 15 games.' There's teams playing 15, 16 games already and that's only if you're in the championship. Our regular season right now is 12 games. You go to the Big Ten championship, that's 13 games. You go to the playoffs, semifinals, there's 14. Play in the national championship, that's 15."

It's not surprising that Harbaugh, or any coach, would advocate for a larger playoff field, as it would make their jobs significantly easier. With five major conferences and only four playoff bids available, there will always be at least one left out.

Michigan also plays in the same conference as perennial powers Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin with only one likely making the playoffs each year.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox