The Athletic: Larger college football playoffs already exist. So what can FBS learn from FCS and beyond?

As college football leaders debate expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams, lower-division playoff systems are offering insight into how larger postseason formats can affect competition, scheduling and player development. The Athletic included perspective from University of Indianapolis head football coach Chris Keevers, whose program has made four consecutive NCAA Division II playoff appearances, on how expanded playoffs influence the regular season and athlete workload. Keevers argued that larger playoff fields do not diminish the importance of regular-season games because teams remain motivated to earn favorable seeding and byes, while also cautioning that longer seasons can create physical challenges for players and programs. His analysis places the playoff expansion debate within a broader understanding of competitive balance, postseason structure and the long-term demands of college athletics.