NFL should buy and run college football, ESPN’s Evan Cohen suggests after expanded playoff deal
A 24-team playoff deal
The College Football Playoff and ESPN agreed to a five-year contract expanding the tournament to 24 teams in 2027 and beyond. ESPN’s Heather Dinich reported that the deal is worth nearly $1.7 billion.
On Thursday’s First Take, Cohen, Louis Riddick, Gerald McCoy and Shae Cornette discussed Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz’s response to the expansion becoming official. Drinkwitz said college football must adapt, but questioned the continuing purpose of conference ties.
Drinkwitz questions conference ties
Drinkwitz asked whether conferences still make sense if teams no longer compete for conference championships. He also questioned whether those affiliations are mainly for scheduling and whether they justify long-distance games.
Cohen said conferences serve non-revenue sports more than revenue sports. He then turned the discussion toward the NCAA, asking what purpose the organization serves.
Cohen proposes NFL ownership
Cohen argued that college leaders may prefer the NCAA to serve as a target for decisions they want made, rather than taking responsibility themselves. He said the sport’s changes raised questions about the NCAA’s overall role, not only the conferences.
Cohen said the NFL should buy college football and operate it, adding that he was serious. McCoy replied that this was what the sport was becoming, and Cohen repeated that he meant the proposal.
Debate over playoff expansion
The story noted that ESPN had privately opposed expanding the playoff, according to reporting by The Athletic’s Chris Vannini and Ralph D. Russo. CFP director Rich Clark also said publicly that fan sentiment was overwhelmingly against a 24-team format, but the expansion had to happen anyway.
The piece connected Cohen’s proposal to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s efforts to establish the league in cities across the country. It raised the possibility of college football towns becoming part of that expansion, while presenting the idea as a question rather than a confirmed plan.
Key points
- The College Football Playoff will expand to 24 teams in 2027 under a five-year ESPN deal.
- ESPN reported the agreement is worth nearly $1.7 billion.
- Evan Cohen said the NFL should buy and run college football.
- Cohen’s remarks followed Eli Drinkwitz’s questions about conference affiliations and championships.