Tennessee athletic director Danny White advocates for expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams, emphasizing the need for more inclusivity in postseason opportunities.
Key points
Danny White advocates for a 24-team College Football Playoff expansion
Current playoff format includes 12 teams
White spoke at Tennessee’s Big Orange Caravan
Expansion aims for greater inclusivity in postseason
Momentum is building for playoff format changes
Mentioned in this story
College Football PlayoffDanny White
Tennessee Volunteers
Why Tennessee athletic director Danny White wants CFP to expand to 24 teams
Tennessee athletic director Danny White said at Tennessee’s Big Orange Caravan on April 29 at Marathon Music Works in Nashville that he’d like that number to be on the higher end.
“I’d like to see it go to 24 (teams),” he said. “I think if you look at the percentage (of postseason teams) in football, it’s significantly less than every other sport. The expanded playoff, I’ve always been an advocate for it since way before I came to Tennessee.”
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
Fans wait for the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
Q&A
Why does Danny White want the College Football Playoff to expand to 24 teams?
Danny White believes expanding to 24 teams would create more inclusivity and opportunities for postseason participation.
What is the current format of the College Football Playoff?
The current College Football Playoff format includes 12 teams competing for the championship.
When did Danny White express his desire for a 24-team playoff?
Danny White expressed his desire for a 24-team playoff during Tennessee’s Big Orange Caravan on April 29.
What are the potential benefits of expanding the College Football Playoff?
Expanding the playoff could increase fan engagement, provide more teams with postseason opportunities, and enhance the overall competitiveness of college football.
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Fans wait for players to arrive during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
Players walk during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
Smokey greets a family during the Vol Walk, before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
The Volunteer waves the Power T flag during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
The Pride of the Southland Band performs during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
At right, VFL Alontae Taylor walks during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
Players huddle on the field after the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
A young fan asks Smokey to sign his football during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop (18) greets fans during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
David Sanders Jr. walks during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
Players sign autographs during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
A young fan reaches out for a high-five during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
1 / 14
See Tennessee's Orange and White game, from the Vol Walk to the field
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
1 / 14
See Tennessee's Orange and White game, from the Vol Walk to the field
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
2 / 14
See Tennessee's Orange and White game, from the Vol Walk to the field
Fans wait for the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
3 / 14
See Tennessee's Orange and White game, from the Vol Walk to the field
Fans wait for players to arrive during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
4 / 14
See Tennessee's Orange and White game, from the Vol Walk to the field
Players walk during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
5 / 14
See Tennessee's Orange and White game, from the Vol Walk to the field
Smokey greets a family during the Vol Walk, before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
6 / 14
See Tennessee's Orange and White game, from the Vol Walk to the field
The Volunteer waves the Power T flag during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
7 / 14
See Tennessee's Orange and White game, from the Vol Walk to the field
The Pride of the Southland Band performs during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
8 / 14
See Tennessee's Orange and White game, from the Vol Walk to the field
At right, VFL Alontae Taylor walks during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
9 / 14
See Tennessee's Orange and White game, from the Vol Walk to the field
Players huddle on the field after the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
10 / 14
See Tennessee's Orange and White game, from the Vol Walk to the field
A young fan asks Smokey to sign his football during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
11 / 14
See Tennessee's Orange and White game, from the Vol Walk to the field
Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop (18) greets fans during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
12 / 14
See Tennessee's Orange and White game, from the Vol Walk to the field
David Sanders Jr. walks during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
13 / 14
See Tennessee's Orange and White game, from the Vol Walk to the field
Players sign autographs during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
14 / 14
See Tennessee's Orange and White game, from the Vol Walk to the field
A young fan reaches out for a high-five during the Vol Walk before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
The CFP will remain at 12 teams for the 2026 season, but ESPN's Pete Thamel reported in February that Big Ten leaders were circulating a document projecting what a 24-team playoff would look like.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and other leaders have advocated for 16 teams, with five conference champions and 11 at-large bids in the field.
“I thought (expansion) would be better for the regular season," White said. "There were a lot of naysayers that said it would decimate the regular season, and what happened? We had higher ratings in the regular season than we’ve ever had, particularly in the back one-third of the regular season when more teams are in the hunt, which is healthy.”
Five SEC teams made the 12-team CFP field in 2025, and White believes the SEC should have more schools in the running.
“A bigger percentage of SEC teams and a bigger percentage of just FBS teams in general should qualify for the postseason if we’re going to crown a national champion that way, and we clearly are,” he said.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform,@tpalmateer83.
