SAN JOSE, Calif. — Those in favor of expanding the College Football Playoff shouldn’t hold their breath.

Bill Hancock, the CFP committee’s executive director, didn’t sound in favor of such a proposition before the 12-year contract expires after the 2026 playoff despite recent buzz.

“We’re all happy to hear discussion, but four has been very good for college football,” he said. “People didn’t like the BCS, but people really like the College Football Playoff. It’s way different.”

Hancock said university presidents and conference commissioners will talk about the idea Monday, but it will be more of a discussion whether to further discuss it.

“Personally, I remember what our group went through when they were considering the playoff initially, and when we talked about two, four, eight [teams], and we settled on four for lots of reasons,” Hancock said. “Academic calendar, extra game for student-athletes. There were lots of reasons to stay with four, and I want to hear people talk about what has changed since then.”

As for the narrative there is no chance for Cinderella in college football, Hancock disagreed. Despite back-to-back perfect regular seasons, Central Florida was never really in the discussion, but that was the Knights’ fault, Hancock said.

“Go play a good schedule, win your games, and you’re going to be in the discussion,” Hancock said. “There’s a way.”

Monday night’s title game also is the third time in four games Clemson and Alabama will decide the national champion. Only Notre Dame was new to the playoff this year from the four last year. But Hancock doesn’t see a problem with that.

“Not a factor,” he said.

Tua Tagovailoa nearly wound up picking USC over Alabama, he said Saturday.

“I was pretty close going to SC, but it was a family decision,” the Crimson Tide quarterback said. “I wouldn’t look back.”
Asked what led him to choose Alabama, Tagovailoa told reporters they had to ask his father, Galu Tagovailoa.

“My dad is the person who helped me make the decision,” the Heisman Trophy runner-up said.

Dexter Lawrence will be a spectator in what is likely his final game at Clemson. The star defensive tackle, who was suspended for the Cotton Bowl because of a failed drug test, along with two other teammates, also will be prohibited from playing in Monday night’s national championship game. Lawrence, a likely first-round draft pick this year, is expected to be replaced again by senior Albert Huggins , who forced a fumble in the semifinal win over Notre Dame.

— additional reporting by Howie Kussoy