Ohio State AD Ross Bjork’s Expansion Push Sparks Fan Backlash

Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork has once again found himself in the middle of a fan firestorm after suggesting that further College Football Playoff expansion is the best thing for the sport. This is not the first time Bjork has faced criticism; he previously drew the ire of Buckeyes fans for changing the tradition of the band playing “Hang on Sloopy” after the third quarter.

Bjork’s argument is that more playoff expansion, with potential fields of 16, 20, or even 32 teams, would create more high-level, meaningful games and generate more revenue for college football. “What’s wrong with more high-level football?” Bjork stated. “What’s wrong with more meaningful postseason content?” However, many fans are skeptical, believing that a larger playoff field would lead to more unwatchable blowouts in the early rounds, rather than competitive matchups. This sentiment is fueled by the recent expansion to 12 teams, which many felt led to unwatchable first-round games.

A key part of the expansion debate is the possibility of adding multiple automatic qualifying spots for major conferences like the Big Ten. Bjork acknowledged that this is where the conversation “gets hung up,” but he continued to advocate for morphing conference championship weekends and bowl games into the playoff system. The idea of the sixth or seventh-best team from a conference getting a playoff spot and likely being blown out in the first round is a major point of contention for fans.

The push for a larger playoff field is far from being decided, but Bjork has made his position clear. His comments have been met with derision, with many fans echoing the sentiment that the current 12-team playoff is already too large, and expanding it further is simply a “cash grab” that sacrifices the integrity of the game. For now, the debate rages on, and Bjork’s stance on playoff expansion has only added to the scrutiny he faces in his new role at Ohio State.