Well, college football is about to get a whole lot bigger. Whether that’s a good thing is another question. ESPN and the College Football Playoff have agreed to a five-year, $1.7 billion deal that will expand the playoff from 12 teams to 24 beginning in 2027. More schools will have a chance to chase a national championship, and more games will have something on the line. Sounds pretty good on the surface, doesn’t it?

But there’s another side to this decision, and longtime college football fans might have a harder time swallowing it.

What Are We Giving Up to Get More Playoff Games?

Former Alabama coach Nick Saban has already made his feelings known. He doesn’t believe 24 teams are capable of winning a national championship, and he sees money as the driving force behind the expansion. It’s hard to dismiss that argument when you look at the financial agreement. ESPN is making a substantial investment, and more playoff games mean more television inventory and more opportunities to attract viewers.

But here’s what bothers me about the change. Conference championship games have meant something for generations. Winning the SEC, Big Ten or another major conference isn’t just another line on a team’s résumé. It’s something players, coaches and fans take pride in.

Under the proposed arrangement, those Power Four championship games would disappear. Saban made an interesting point. Only two teams play for a national championship, but conference championship games give more players and fans a chance to experience something special. That’s worth remembering.

When Everybody Gets In, Does the Regular Season Matter Less?

There’s another concern. A 24-team playoff means more schools can survive a few losses and still have a shot at the national championship. Consider the hypothetical bracket shared by Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger. Arizona, Oregon and Boise State would all have been in the proposed field based on the rankings and records discussed in the report.

That’s exciting for those fan bases. But it also raises a question: how much will regular-season performance matter when so many teams remain in contention? College football has always had something that makes its regular season different. One bad Saturday can change an entire season. Rivalries, upsets, and conference races carry real weight because the margin for error is small.

Maybe the bigger playoff will bring in new fans and give more schools a reason to believe. That’s not a bad thing. But there’s a difference between giving more teams a chance and making every game feel equally important.

I’m all for giving fans more meaningful football. I’m just not convinced a bigger tournament automatically makes for a better sport. Sometimes, getting more of something means losing a little of what made it special in the first place.

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