The College Football Playoff is expanding as a wild summer for the sport winds down. Two factors can plausibly be credited with the expansion. Cincinnati Football and the relationship between football and TV.

Just as the college football season began in earnest last weekend. The powers that are operating the College Football Playoff announced their decision to expand. From the current four to a 12-team field by 2024 at the earliest. Giving playoff berths to the top six conference champions and six at large teams. While expanding to 12 instead of eight may’ve surprised some. This expansion felt inevitable and was perhaps accelerated by Cincinnati Football’s CFP bid last year. It could be argued Cincinnati’s 2021 success is the best thing to happen to the CFP since it launched.

Cincinnati becoming the first Group of Five Conference CFP team added intrigue. To a playoff that over time was starting to lack it. The four-team format was getting stale before last year. With the field dominated mostly by the same top-tier teams over and over. Add blowout semifinal and national championship games to the mix. Plus, games dragging on for nearly or even past the four-hour mark. That’s not a winning recipe for the playoff in the long run.

Even though they never led against Arkansas last Saturday. The Bearcats still kept it close despite numerous penalties and missed scoring opportunities. Along with players struggling to keep their helmets on. Group of Five Cincinnati still contended against a ranked power five team. Compared to several top tier Power Five teams. The Cincinnati Bearcats are a compelling team to watch.

The Bearcats’ playoff pursuit breathed new life into the CFP. While causing blue blood programs and conferences to panic. Amid their shock over commoners in their eyes entering their palace. With the aristocratic Power Five acting in ways not associated with modern monarchs. Such as the late Queen Elizabeth II or her successor Charles III.

Amid Cincinnati’s rise, the SEC and Big Ten made moves striving to expand their clout. Texas and Oklahoma announced plans to move from the Big 12 to the SEC. Paving the way for UC to join the Big 12 Conference and by extension the Power Five. Not to be outdone, the Big Ten added USC and UCLA earlier this summer. While reaching a mega media deal with CBS, FOX and NBC.

The role of TV in the playoff’s expansion should not be understated. TV and football maintain an odd relationship. With the widest array of options viewers have ever had. Broadcast TV rarely draws in the kind of audiences it did decades ago. Football is the rare thing that still draws massive audiences. Leaving networks desperate to have football in their lineup. Especially with the rise of streaming media, which has a growing presence in sports broadcasting.

The CFP is in position to capitalize on that dynamic with an expanded playoff. By reaping a massive payday with the CFP’s next media rights deal. Their current deal with ESPN runs through 2026. The CFP might strive for a media deal with multiple partners. Akin to the recent Big Ten deal or the NFL’s media deal. While common sense is not something associated with modern college football. Common sense suggests the CFP will ultimately go with the highest bidder.

Various groups are striving to maintain clout and relevance here. ESPN is striving to maintain relevance as cable contends with cord cutting and streaming. Broadcast TV networks are eager to maintain relevance too. The CFP is striving to make their playoff more alluring. While Power Five Conferences are striving to hold onto their respective empires. Colleges collectively face scrutiny over high tuition costs. While all sides are striving ultimately to make a buck.

Amid all of that, the Bearcats remain one of college football’s most compelling teams. The expanded playoff gives Cincinnati a better chance to advance to it. CFP expansion provides opportunities for other Group of Five schools too. This expansion presents opportunities for more generally. More teams and more relevant postseason games. More games give the CFP’s broadcasting partner more inventory. Hopefully giving fans a more compelling playoff and less conference turbulence.