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Michigan's Will Johnson isn't a fan of new College Football Playoff format

Michigan star cornerback Will Johnson isn't a fan of the 12-team College Football Playoff format.
Chris Breiler|
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Following college football's first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff format in 2024, the reviews seem to be mixed. While most certainly enjoyed seeing playoff games occur on college campuses, there's also a large segment of fans who believe the expanded playoff doesn't have the same juice as the previous four-team format.

You can add former Michigan cornerback Will Johnson to that list.

Meeting with the media during the 2025 NFL Combine, Johnson was asked about his thoughts on the newly expanded 12-team playoff, one that saw the Ohio State Buckeyes claim a national championship as a No. 8 seed. "I would say go back to four teams," Johnson said. "I think it's a little watered down."

While there are plenty of college football fans who likely agree with Johnson's take here, the reality is that there's zero chance of a return to a four-team format. In fact, discussions are already taking place about expanding the playoff field even further to 14 or even 16 teams. It's clear that the College Football Playoff remains a work-in-progress, and that the current format still has many flaws. But with conference realignment and massive TV deals shaping the direction of college athletics, fans have no choice but to embrace whatever change will come.

- Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI -

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Chris Breiler
CHRIS BREILER

Christopher Breiler launched Winged Helmet Media and began covering the Michigan Football program in an unofficial capacity in 2017. He then joined Wolverine Digest as part of the FanNation network in 2021 as a contributing writer, where he served as both a writer and a photographer on game days. In 2024, he took over as the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI. His love for Michigan Football brought him into the industry, and his passion for being a content creator has led to some amazing experiences along the way.

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