Ross Bjork’s position on the expansion of the College Football Playoffs as an Ohio State AD

In recent years, the expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP) has become one of the most debated topics in college athletics. As the College Football Playoff era moves beyond its initial years, it’s clear that change is needed to address concerns over fairness, inclusivity, and the ever-evolving landscape of college football. Among the prominent voices in this conversation, Ross Bjork, who has served as the Athletic Director (AD) at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), has been a vocal proponent of an expanded playoff format. However, if Bjork had held the position of AD at a school like Ohio State University, the conversation would take on an even more complex and intriguing dimension, given the Buckeyes’ traditional dominance in the sport and their consistent presence in the CFP.

In this article, we’ll explore what Ross Bjork’s position on the expansion of the College Football Playoffs might look like if he had been an Ohio State Athletic Director, and how it could balance both the interests of a blue-chip powerhouse like Ohio State and the larger vision for college football. We will dive into the complexities of playoff expansion, Bjork’s thoughts on the issue from his time at Ole Miss, and how his leadership at Ohio State could shape the future of college football.

The College Football Playoff: A Brief History and the Need for Change

Before delving into Bjork’s potential stance on the expansion, it’s important to understand the context of the College Football Playoff. The current format, which began in the 2014 season, consists of four teams selected by a committee to compete in a two-semifinal game setup, with the winners advancing to the national championship game. However, this relatively new playoff format has faced growing criticism over the years.

The criticisms are multi-faceted:

1. Limited Inclusivity: The four-team format has been criticized for excluding deserving teams from Group of Five conferences, smaller Power Five conferences, and teams with strong regular-season resumes but no “brand-name” recognition.
2. Lack of Fairness: As powerful programs like Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, and Oklahoma continue to dominate, critics argue that the current system offers too few opportunities for underdog teams to compete for a national title.
3. Bias Toward Powerhouse Programs: The structure tends to favor Power Five conferences, leaving teams outside these groups at a disadvantage. The result is that non-Power Five teams or those from mid-major conferences rarely have a chance to prove themselves on the national stage.

Given these criticisms, it’s no surprise that there has been mounting pressure for a broader playoff system. In fact, many key figures in college football, including Conference Commissioners, athletic directors, and coaches, have expressed interest in expanding the playoff to increase access, reduce bias, and generate more excitement around the postseason.

Ross Bjork: A Leader Who Advocates for Change

As the AD at Ole Miss since 2019, Ross Bjork has been one of the most outspoken proponents of college football playoff expansion. A former AD at the University of Texas, Bjork’s leadership style has been marked by his willingness to embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo. When it comes to playoff expansion, Bjork has argued that college football needs to adopt a model that reflects the growing demands of the sport, including increased television contracts, fan engagement, and the competitive nature of programs outside the traditional powerhouse schools.

Bjork’s public support for playoff expansion stems from several key beliefs:

1. Increased Opportunities for More Teams: Bjork has been a vocal advocate for creating more opportunities for programs that typically do not get a chance to play in major bowl games or the playoff itself. He believes the expansion would give teams outside the power elite—such as those from the Group of Five or smaller Power Five conferences—a legitimate shot at competing for a national championship.
2. Improved Fan Engagement: Bjork has emphasized that expanding the playoff will increase fan excitement by including a more diverse array of teams in the postseason mix. With more teams competing for a national title, fanbases across the country will feel more connected to the playoff experience, driving up both ticket sales and television ratings.
3. Fairer Representation for All Conferences: Expanding the playoffs would provide a more equitable system for college football programs, including the inclusion of conference champions from outside the Power Five. Programs like Cincinnati, UCF, and Boise State—who may win their conference championships but get excluded from the four-team playoff—would finally have an opportunity to play for a national title.

Ross Bjork as Ohio State AD: A New Perspective on Playoff Expansion

If Ross Bjork had served as Ohio State’s Athletic Director, his position on playoff expansion might present a delicate balance of respecting the traditions and competitive nature of the Big Ten while also recognizing the broader needs of college football. As an AD at one of the sport’s most successful and dominant programs, Bjork’s perspective would likely take into account both the advantage that Ohio State has in the current playoff system and the long-term viability of expanding the tournament for the sport as a whole.

1. A Balanced Approach: Protecting Ohio State’s Competitive Edge

At Ohio State, Bjork would likely be keenly aware of the program’s legacy and status as one of the top teams in college football. The Buckeyes have been a fixture in the College Football Playoff since its inception, regularly competing for national championships. With this dominance, Bjork would understand that Ohio State benefits from the current four-team playoff format, which consistently includes the Buckeyes as one of the select teams eligible for postseason contention.

While Bjork might support playoff expansion from a broader college football perspective, he would be conscious of the impact on programs like Ohio State. With the possibility of more teams being added to the mix, the Buckeyes’ path to the playoff could become less clear-cut. In this light, Bjork might advocate for a system that not only increases access for more programs but also maintains an element of exclusivity for top teams—ensuring that elite programs like Ohio State remain central to the playoff picture. This could mean advocating for a system where conference champions or top-ranked teams are still afforded preferential access to the playoff, even with the expansion.

2. Advocating for a Structured and Fair Format

A central part of Bjork’s argument for playoff expansion at Ole Miss has been that the current system lacks fairness. In his position at Ohio State, Bjork would likely push for a system that is both fair and structured. This could mean a model in which:

• Conference Champions Get Automatic Bids: Bjork might push for automatic bids for conference champions, ensuring that all Power Five champions and potentially top-ranked Group of Five teams, such as those from the American Athletic Conference, are included. This would ensure that teams like Cincinnati or UCF, who have historically been excluded from the playoff despite strong seasons, finally have an opportunity to compete for a title.
• Inclusion of Group of Five Teams: Bjork would likely continue his advocacy for giving Group of Five programs a more meaningful role in the playoff conversation. As an AD at a powerhouse school like Ohio State, he would have the influence to encourage the inclusion of non-Power Five teams as automatic or at-large qualifiers.
• 12-Team Model or Beyond: Many of the proposed expansion models suggest a 12-team playoff, where the top four teams would receive a first-round bye, and the remaining teams would play for a chance to move on. This model, which is currently under consideration, would allow for more teams to participate while still preserving some semblance of structure by rewarding the top-ranked teams with the advantage of a first-round bye. Bjork would likely support such a model, as it would provide a balanced approach between accessibility and exclusivity.

3. Long-Term Sustainability: The Future of College Football

As AD at Ohio State, Bjork would have the foresight to understand that the expansion of the College Football Playoff isn’t just about the immediate impact on the Buckeyes’ position in the postseason. It’s about the long-term sustainability of the sport as a whole. College football is a multi-billion dollar enterprise, and expanding the playoff would likely increase revenue through additional television contracts, sponsorship deals, and more fan engagement.

From a business perspective, Bjork would recognize that more games, more teams, and greater fan engagement all contribute to the growth of college football. While Ohio State would benefit from the increased visibility and excitement of a larger playoff field, Bjork’s position as an AD would be focused on ensuring that the long-term health of the sport is preserved.

By supporting an expansion that includes all teams—while ensuring that the premier programs are still prioritized—Bjork would be positioning Ohio State to benefit from the increased exposure and financial rewards. More teams in the playoff would also create more opportunities for Ohio State to enhance its recruiting efforts, building on its already strong pipeline of top-tier talent.

4. The Cultural and Competitive Shifts

Bjork would also be attuned to the shifting dynamics of college football. As the sport becomes more national in scope, with players coming from all corners of the United States and international markets, the traditional dominance of a few elite teams is facing challenges from upstart programs. By expanding the playoff, Bjork would understand that the balance of power could shift, with smaller programs given the chance to compete on equal footing with the giants of the sport.

At Ohio State, Bjork would help to navigate these cultural and competitive shifts, advocating for a system that maintains the prestige and tradition of the Buckeyes while allowing for fair competition from teams with fewer resources. In his view, a fairer system would ultimately make the sport more interesting and unpredictable, enhancing its long-term viability.

Ross Bjork’s Vision for the Future of College Football

If Ross

Bjork were Ohio State’s Athletic Director, his position on the expansion of the College Football Playoff would be shaped by his commitment to fairness, inclusivity, and long-term sustainability. While he would undoubtedly want to protect Ohio State’s position as one of college football’s elite programs, his vision for the future would center on creating opportunities for more teams to compete for national championships. Through a balanced, structured, and fair playoff format, Bjork would aim to create a postseason that serves the best interests of all programs, whether they come from the Power Five or the Group of Five.

As college football evolves, Bjork’s leadership could serve as a bridge between the traditions of the sport and the need for modernization, ensuring that playoff expansion benefits both elite programs like Ohio State and the broader college football landscape.