Paul Finebaum is not budging. As the College Football Playoff format debate stretches deeper into 2026, the ESPN and SEC Network analyst keeps returning to the same answer when asked where he stands. Sixteen teams. Not 24. During an appearance on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning , Finebaum told the podcast hosts that he cannot find a logical case for the larger field , even as momentum builds behind the scenes for a jump that would nearly double the current format. Why Finebaum opposes a 24 team playoff "I'm very much at 16, Greg, and I just don't understand the argument," Finebaum said. "I don't understand a coherent argument for 24." His reasoning starts with a basic competitive truth. Indiana won the national title last season as the Big Ten claimed its third straight crown, but the field of true contenders never came close to 12, let alone 24. Finebaum doesn't believe there were 12 teams in last year's playoff who had a realistic chance to win the title, let alone 24.…