At the end of the 2024 regular season, the Ohio State football team had perhaps the worst vibes in the country. They had just lost to Michigan at home, continuing the losing streak to four games. Heading into the first-round of the College Football Playoff, Buckeye fans had little hope of making a run.
Then, the Ohio State Buckeyes absolutely annihilated the Tennessee Volunteers. It was a game that wasn't even close, as the Buckeyes scored three touchdowns in the first quarter. That loss seemingly ruined the Vols for over a year, as they failed to make the CFP in 2025.
It's pretty clear that the game still takes up a lot of real estate in Heupel's head. His thoughts on the CFP have now changed to the point that he wants as many teams to get in as possible so that he doesn't have to face a juggernaut like Ohio State again.
Ohio State loss has Josh Heupel wanting a 24-team College Football Playoff
Heupel wants a 24-team CFP moving forward. He believes that is the way to crown the national champion of college football.
"The way college football is constantly changing, that probably makes the most sense."
In other words, he wants to be able to make the CFP more often, and when he does, he doesn't want to face a team as good as the Buckeyes in the first round. The Big Ten is pushing for a 24-team CFP while the SEC wants a 16-team Playoff. A 24-team CFP would be a disaster.
It seems that the Buckeyes have broken Heupel's brain. Last season, the Volunteers finished just 8-5 last season, not coming close to making the Playoff. That loss also led Nico Iamaleava to transfer to UCLA. That action certainly hurt their chances of making a repeat appearance in the CFP.
Ohio State fans should be rooting for a 16-team CFP. A 24-team Playoff would completely ruin the regular season.