I agree there is a point where playoff expansion can go too far, where we may differ is not on whether expansion is warranted, but on scale. Given the number of teams there are in Division 1 college football, disparities in schedule difficulty across teams/conferences, and the role of a selection committee, a 24-team playoff strikes a reasonable balance. More outcomes would be decided on the field, rather than in the committee room. Teams just outside the cutoff of a 24 team format would still object, but the risk of excluding a legitimate championship contender is lower than in the current 12-team format.
Regarding college basketball, its regular season may suffer from factors beyond just playoff size—most notably a 30-plus game regular season schedule that dilutes the importance of individual games. That dynamic doesn’t exist in a 12-game football season played once a week, where each result carries real consequence. Talent continuity also matters: college basketball’s one-and-done model has weakened team identity and overall quality of play, gradually eroding fan interest. College football, by contrast, retains most elite talent for multiple seasons and benefits from being the nation’s dominant sport, which sustains engagement throughout the regular season. Given football’s cultural prominence, there is less risk that a 24-team playoff would diminish regular season interest. In fact, it could increase engagement, as more fan bases would remain invested longer, with more teams realistically in contention for a playoff spot.