It appears increasingly likely that expansion won’t end at 14, with ESPN indicating there is “continued focus” on growing the event to 16 teams starting with the 2026 season.

"After evaluating the first year of the 12-team playoff, the CFP management committee felt it was in the best interest of the game to make this adjustment," CFP Executive Director Rich Clark said in ...

It would not have mattered much this past season, as the Irish were ranked as the No. 5 team, and would have had to play Clemson instead of Indiana.