Longhorns Daily News: Texas’ Steve Sarkisian floats CFP expansion alternative

TL;DR

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian proposed an alternative to the College Football Playoff expansion, suggesting a multi-team playoff format within conferences like the SEC. This would send the conference winner to the existing four-team CFP bracket.

Key points

Steve Sarkisian is the head coach of Texas Longhorns.
He suggested an alternative to the CFP expansion.
The proposal involves a multi-team playoff within conferences.

Mentioned in this story

Steve Sarkisian

Texas LonghornsCollege Football PlayoffSEC

AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 18: Head Coach Steve Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns on the field during the Texas Longhorns Football Fan Day on April 18, 2026, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images In a recent interview, Texas football head coach Steve Sarkisian floated an alternative idea to the potential expansion of the College Football Playoff from its current 12-team format to 16 or 24 teams. Instead, Sarkisian said, per *Sports Illustrated*, conferences like the SEC could hold a multi-team playoff format that would then send the winner of which to an eventual four-team CFP bracket. **WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS** *Austin American-Statesman*: What’s in play for Texas baseball in final week? SEC, NCAA seedings *Austin American-Statesman*: Meet Texas softball’s Austin Regional foes: Wagner, Baylor, Wisconsin 247Sports: One question for all 12 teams on the 2026 Texas football schedule 247Sports: The First Word: Texas football’s special teams unit under needs to have a rebound season : Texas projected as the No. 6 national seed according to several prominent publications : How Texas’ midweek matchups factor into its NCAA Tournament resume **ICYMI IN BURNT ORANGE NATION** **RECRUITING ROUNDUP** : Scruggs Scoop: Scattershooting recruiting notes : Commit and flip watch: Latest rumblings on the top 100 : Texas Recruiting Notes: Horns making major push at talent-rich Atascocita : Texas Longhorns Recruiting Intel: Texas sees Notre Dame commit, new OV set, and new 2027 offer : RPM for Texas to land 2027 four-star offensive talent : Dhillon Mcgee narrows it down to SMU, Texas, and Penn State with a June 25th commitment date **SEC SHOWDOWN** **: Did Texas softball climb up the national polls after winning the SEC? : Former Texas head coach Rodney Terry joins Vanderbilt basketball as an assistant coach : Missouri’s 2026 Returning Production: Defense : College Gameday coming to Baton Rouge for LSU-Clemson : Where Tennessee baseball stands in the SEC after dropping series finale to Texas : Keegan Brown opens up about his Kentucky basketball role **WHAT WE’RE READING** : The Portland Fire just won their first game, and it was perfect : NFL schedule release 2026: 9 international games are already beginning to leak : 6 Giannis Antetokounmpo trade packages after Bucks’ ultimatum to superstar **NEWS ACROSS LONGHORN NATION AND BEYOND**

Q&A

What is Steve Sarkisian's proposal for College Football Playoff expansion?

Steve Sarkisian proposed a multi-team playoff format within conferences like the SEC, sending the winner to the four-team College Football Playoff.

How would Sarkisian's playoff format differ from the current CFP structure?

Sarkisian's format would involve a conference-level playoff before determining a single representative for the existing four-team CFP, rather than expanding the CFP itself.

Which conferences could implement Sarkisian's playoff idea?

Sarkisian specifically mentioned that conferences like the SEC could adopt this multi-team playoff format.