Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko isn't afraid to speak his mind, and his latest warning about the future of college football is one every fan should hear. As the College Football Playoff continues to flirt with expansion beyond its current 12-team format, Elko is sounding the alarm that bigger might not be better—and could actually ruin the sport we love.

During a recent interview with USA TODAY's Blake Toppemeyer, Elko addressed the growing chatter about expanding the CFP to as many as 24 teams. This comes on the heels of the NCAA's announcement that the men's basketball tournament will grow from 68 to 76 teams—a move that has drawn widespread criticism from college basketball fans who see it as unnecessary. But for Elko, the real concern lies on the gridiron.

"The head coach who wants to keep his job, he'll say the right size is 45 teams or however many we can possibly fit in it," Elko said. "Because making the playoff is becoming such a marker for the premier programs. Either you're in, or you're out. And if you're out, you failed."

Elko knows what it takes to earn a playoff berth. After a historic 11-0 start in 2024, his Aggies finished 11-2 and made their first-ever CFP appearance—fueled by a roster that produced a record 10 NFL Draft selections. That kind of achievement, he argues, should remain the gold standard. The playoffs should feature the best teams, period, ensuring every round delivers the kind of competitive fire that defines college football at its finest.

But the proposed elimination of conference championship games, combined with an ever-expanding playoff field, has Elko worried that the sport's identity is at risk. "Getting too big, too fast could ruin college football as we know it," he warned. While college basketball might be able to absorb an expanded tournament, the same can't be said for a sport where every Saturday matters—and where the path to a national title should be earned, not handed out.

For fans who love the tradition and intensity of college football, Elko's message is clear: be careful what you wish for. The playoffs are special because they're exclusive. Watering them down might just wash away everything that makes the game great.