American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco released an “open letter to college football” Monday, hoping to spark more conversation and support for expanding the College Football Playoff to 12 teams as soon as possible. “We are on the clock, and our window is narrowing for an agreement on a plan that could be implemented in 2024 and 2025,” Aresco wrote in the letter. “And although frustration has intensified, there is still hope.”The letter comes a month after ACC commissioner Jim Phillips poured water on expansion hopes by saying at a news conference that the ACC does not support expansion at this time. It also comes ahead of the next CFP management committee meeting on March 2. Aresco’s letter addressed Phillips’ concerns and the largest hurdles to expansion, citing two main issues: health and safety aspects and the automatic qualifying spots. Aresco noted that, in the 12-team model, most teams would not play any more games than they do now, and other steps can be taken to mitigate wear and tear. As for automatic qualifying spots, the original working group plan revealed last summer gave spots to the six highest-ranked conference champions. The ACC and Big Ten have since pushed an idea that would guarantee five spots for Power 5 champions and one for a Group of 5 champion. Aresco said that model “has received minimal support.”“Just as Major League Baseball does not give a privileged position to the American League East, and not to other divisions, simply because the Yankees and the Red Sox are the biggest brands, have and spend the most money, and have had the most recent success, the CFP should not be affording conferences privileged positions based on such factors,” Aresco wrote.Aresco told The Athletic he gave a heads up to everyone involved in the CFP and sent them a copy before publishing the letter.(Photo: Jessica Hill / AP)
