The Weekender: Possible expansion to the NCAA tournament, Michigan OC Kirk Campbell calls the Wolverines’ offense ‘explosive’ in 2024 and Pat McAfee wants to keep walk-ons in college football

NCAA tournament could potentially be expanded to 72 or 76 teams

The men’s tournament was expanded from 65 to 68 teams in 2011; the women’s tournament was expanded from 64 to 68 teams in 2022.

According to ESPN, the NCAA tournament could now be expanded to include more teams, so that the number of participants could grow from 68 to 72 or 76 teams.

“It’s appropriate to consider expansion, and that’s what we need to do,” ACC Commissioner James Phillips said Thursday during the Associated Press summer sports editors’ conference. “We’re looking at it. When do you get to the point where the regular season no longer matters?” Phillips said. “I would prefer a modest expansion.”

The NCAA is in the midst of an eight-year, $8.8 billion extension of its television contract for the NCAA Tournament that runs through 2032, and more games would generate additional revenue in both merchandise and tickets.

The NCAA tournament could be expanded no earlier than the 2025-26 season.

Kirk Campbell, Michigan’s new offensive coordinator, calls the Wolverines’ offense “explosive” in 2024

We all know what happened last season and don’t need to rehash it. In fact, we don’t need to explain to Ohio State fans what happened in late November for the past three years.

Still, Michigan has lost a lot of talent, both on the field and on the sidelines, ahead of the 2024 season. The Wolverines only return tight end Colston Loveland on offense and bring back running back Donovan Edwards. Still, Michigan’s first-year offensive coordinator believes the Wolverines’ offense will run well this fall.

“The down-to-earth, physical offense isn’t going to change, that’s going to be our identity, but the players are explosive,” Campbell told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. “Every time those guys touch the football, they show their attributes. My job as a coordinator is to give them the football because they’re going to take care of that explosiveness. They’re playmakers.”

Edwards agreed.

“What (Campbell) said hits the nail on the head: This is an explosive offense,” said Edwards, who had two long touchdown runs in Michigan’s 2022 win over Ohio State and added two 40-plus yard touchdown runs in the national championship game against Washington. “Regardless of whether people think our offense is predominantly run-heavy, we have explosive guys all over the field.”

Pat McAfee criticizes the possible abolition of walk-ons in college football

Walk-ons give us some of the best stories (and even moments) in college football. They are so easy to support and an important part of any program, even if most of the contributions for most walk-ons happen behind the scenes.

As revenue sharing becomes increasingly popular in college football, one of the potential side effects of the new revenue sharing model, which would essentially sign players to contracts, is that it could eliminate walk-ons – an idea that many fans, coaches and players greatly dislike.

Pat McAfee also disagrees with the possible move to abolish walk-ons.

We NEED walk-ons in college football#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/hKdahYZ7hh

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) 21 June 2024

“The idea that we need to eliminate walk-ons from major college football is so stupid,” McAfee said. “And it also makes me believe that a lot of the people making these decisions don’t know anything about football. And if we know people who don’t know anything about football making decisions in this transitional period of college football, we need to figure that out, we need to eliminate that, and we need to preserve this sport and make it the best it can be while we make the transition with people who really know what’s going on.”

“Walk-ons are also an important part of the chemistry and culture in the locker room. Walk-ons, whenever they make it and get a scholarship, are joyful moments for the entire team. Life lessons for the entire team. Walk-ons can inevitably be the reason your team wins or loses.”

In case you missed me

Outgoing Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith says financial literacy is critical for athletes in the NIL era, the revenue-sharing era

Because NIL provides athletes with ample profits and revenue sharing is on the cards, Ohio State’s athletic department is placing greater emphasis on financial management, according to Gene Smith.

Ross Bjork says Ohio State will pay athletes the maximum salary allowed by NCAA settlement and expects the school to follow Title IX legislation in making payments

Incoming athletic director Ross Bjork says Ohio State will participate in revenue sharing and pay athletes the maximum amount allowed as long as Title IX rules are followed.

Evaluating Ryan Day’s six biggest positional question marks for Ohio State Football 2024

We take a look at Ohio State’s situation at six positions where Ryan Day sees question marks: quarterback, offensive line, WR depth, DT depth, safety depth and punter.

Next

• 69 days: Ohio State football team’s season opener against Akron
• 160 days: The game