Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz has joined a growing chorus of Power 4 college football coaches questioning the continued necessity of athletic conferences in the modern era. The comments come as the sport navigates the structural changes brought about by the expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP) to 24 teams.
Drinkwitz specifically highlighted the removal of conference title games as a key factor in his assessment. With the traditional end-of-season championship matches no longer serving as the primary gateway to the postseason, the coach suggested that the fundamental purpose of conference play may have shifted significantly.
Structural Shifts in College Football
The 24-team CFP format represents a major departure from previous structures, offering a broader path to the national championship. This expansion has led many within the Power 4 conferences to reevaluate the value of their existing league structures. The absence of conference title games, which historically determined playoff berths, has left many programs without a clear in-conference objective at the end of the regular season.
Drinkwitz’s remarks align with broader discussions among collegiate athletic leaders regarding the future of conference alignment. As the competitive landscape evolves, coaches and administrators are increasingly debating whether the traditional conference model remains the most effective way to organize college football.
While no immediate changes to conference structures have been announced, the conversation underscores the ongoing turbulence in college athletics. The debate highlights the tension between preserving historical conference rivalries and adapting to a new postseason reality that prioritizes a larger field of contenders.
<small>Source: ESPN — read the original story there.</small>
