---
title: "Swinney Brushes Off 24-Team Playoff Talk in Clemson"
url: https://www.hereclemson.com/2026/10/21/swinney-brushes-off-24-team-playoff-talk-clemson/
date: 2026-10-21T05:39:25-04:00
modified: 2026-10-21T05:39:25-04:00
author: "Noah Hanna"
categories: ["Sports"]
site: "HERE Clemson"
attribution: "HERE Clemson"
---

# Swinney Brushes Off 24-Team Playoff Talk in Clemson

> CLEMSON, S.C. — Dabo Swinney, the Clemson football coach, made it plain on Tuesday that he has no plans to reopen the debate over a bigger College Football Playoff, even as a 24-team field appears to be on the way. Under the plan, which still has not been formally announced, the playoff would grow from

*Source: [HERE Clemson](https://www.hereclemson.com/2026/10/21/swinney-brushes-off-24-team-playoff-talk-clemson/) — October 21, 2026 by Noah Hanna*

CLEMSON, S.C. — Dabo Swinney, the Clemson football coach, made it plain on Tuesday that he has no plans to reopen the debate over a bigger College Football Playoff, even as a 24-team field appears to be on the way.

Under the plan, which still has not been formally announced, the playoff would grow from 12 teams to 24, starting after the 2027 regular season. Asked about it at his weekly news conference, Swinney said he has voiced his views for years in meetings and talks, and that his opinion carries little weight now.

He did say he sees the move as driven by revenue, and he warned that a larger bracket will bring side effects that may only show up once teams live through them. He added that Clemson will simply adjust to whatever format the people in charge settle on.

His attention is on Saturday. The Tigers, 4-2 overall and 2-1 in ACC play, host Virginia Tech, which is 5-2 and 2-2 in the league, at Memorial Stadium with a 7 p.m. kickoff on ESPN. The game starts a stretch of five straight conference games for Clemson.