On this episode of First and 16, we break down why college football should move to a 24-team playoff format. From Cinderella runs to powerhouse rematches, we look at the incredible matchups fans were robbed of last season and how an expanded playoff would make every week matter even more. We dive into seeding, home playoff games, Group of Five opportunities, and the chaos a true postseason bracket could bring. Would a 24-team playoff actually fix college football—or just create more controversy?

The future of college football may finally have its answer. In this episode of First and 16, we break down why the AFCA's proposed 24-team College Football Playoff is exactly what the sport needs. From fixing conference imbalance and giving Group of Five programs a real path to compete, to protecting rivalries and making the regular season matter even more, this format could completely reshape the postseason landscape.

We dive into:

• Why the current playoff model still leaves too many teams out
• How a 24-team bracket would increase fairness and excitement
• The financial impact for conferences and schools
• Why fan interest would explode with on-campus playoff games
• How automatic bids and at-large spots could work
• What this means for the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and Group of Five
• Why expanding the playoff may actually save college football from itself

Is the AFCA proposal the future of the sport — or is college football headed toward complete chaos? We break it all down.

In this episode of First and 16, we dive headfirst into the newly released preseason spring rankings and unpack the growing narrative working against the Big 12. Are these rankings based on real analysis—or recycled bias? We break down where Big 12 teams are being undervalued, which programs are flying under the radar, and how early media perception could shape the entire 2026 college football season. From strength of schedule debates to playoff implications, this is a must-listen for fans who think the Big 12 deserves more respect.

The Big 12 just made one of the most aggressive financial moves in college sports history—and it's not what you think.

On this episode of First and 16, we break down the conference's newly approved partnership with RedBird Capital and what it really means for the future of college athletics. While it's being labeled a "private equity" move, the details tell a much more strategic story: no ownership stake, no revenue control—but a massive push toward commercialization, investment, and new money streams.

We dive into the three pillars of the deal approved yesterday:

• A $12.5 million capital infusion to the league office
• Access to up to $30 million per school (essentially a credit line)
• A business partnership designed to unlock new revenue opportunities

But the real story? This is about positioning for the next media rights war. With RedBird's ties to major media players, the Big 12 may be quietly setting itself up for a post-2030 TV deal that could reshape the entire landscape.

We also zoom out and ask the bigger question:
Is this the moment college athletics officially entered its "capital era"—where conferences act more like investment firms than governing bodies?

Plus:

• Which schools will actually take the money—and which won't
• The hidden risks of turning college programs into leveraged assets
• Why this could widen the gap inside the Big 12 itself

This isn't just a deal. It's a signal. And it might be the beginning of a completely new model for college sports.

On this episode of First and 16, we break down the Brendan Sorsby gambling scandal and the potential fallout for the Big 12, Texas Tech, and college football as a whole. What does this controversy reveal about compliance, player accountability, and the growing tension between gambling, NIL, and college athletics? We examine what this could mean for conference integrity, whether Texas Tech faces bigger consequences, and how the Big 12 could respond moving forward. Is this an isolated incident—or a warning sign of a larger problem in modern college sports?

On this episode of First and 16, we tackle one of the biggest structural questions in college sports: why it may be time for the Group of Five and Power Four to officially split. From revenue gaps and playoff access to scheduling inequities and governance chaos, we break down why the current model may no longer be sustainable. Plus, we react to the shocking decision by the Arkansas Razorbacks to cancel its tennis program and what it signals about the future of Olympic sports, non-revenue programs, and the broader unraveling of college athletics as we know it. Is this reform—or the beginning of the end?

This episode of First and 16 dives into the growing buzz around a potential 24-team College Football Playoff—this time with pressure and influence coming from the government side of things. What would expansion mean for the sport, the players, and the power structure of college athletics? Then, we pivot to college basketball, where the transfer portal has turned into pure chaos. With players moving at unprecedented rates, is this freedom empowering athletes or destabilizing the game? We break down the implications, winners, losers, and what it all means for the future of college sports.

The future of college football is at a crossroads—and the current playoff system isn't cutting it. In this episode of First and 16, we break down exactly why the sport should expand to a 24-team playoff and how it would completely transform the postseason. From fairness and access to preserving the regular season's intensity, we dive into the biggest arguments for expansion.

Plus, we design the ideal 24-team format—how bids should be allocated, which teams get byes, and how to balance power conferences with deserving Group of Five programs. If you care about the future of the sport, this is a conversation you can't miss.