Tony Petitti on Tuesday doubled down on his league's push for a 24-team College Football Playoff, saying the Big Ten can still eliminate its conference championship game in time for a new format to begin in 2027. "The faster it goes," he told ESPN, "the easier it will be."

If the CFP format expands for the 2027 season, the SEC and Big Ten must agree because they control the future format. The Big 12, ACC and Notre Dame support a 24-team field, while the SEC prefers a 16-team format. CFP leaders meet in August and September for clarity, but sources are skeptical of immediate decisions.

Revenue generation from a 24-team field versus lucrative Power 4 championship games remains a key question. "If we find the value, I think it just changes the tone of the conversations," Tony Petitti said. He emphasized collaboration across conferences despite the SEC and Big Ten holding more decision-making power.

Tony Petitti argued a tiered incentive system would prevent regular-season devaluation. "The idea is keeping as many teams in contention for as long as possible," he said, noting advantages for top seeds receiving byes and home games. Every game matters because seeding determines path to the semifinal.