Ohio State won the first expanded playoff. Under proposed changes to the format, the Big Ten and SEC would have a guaranteed four spaces in the playoff.

College football fans, the Big Ten and SEC have your back.

The two monoliths seized control of the College Football Playoff. This is not a hostage situation. This is a coup.

Why? That's like asking why rock stars date supermodels. Because they can.

Athletic directors and commissioners from both leagues are in New Orleans this week to remake the year-old 12-team playoff. And it appears they're getting drunk on power.

According to Yahoo Sports, the Big Ten and SEC threatened to create their own postseason tournament last spring if they did not get a majority of CFP revenue and full authority over the playoff format. Wonder what the SEC/Big Ten national championship trophy looks like.

Yahoo reported this week that the Big Ten and SEC want to expand the playoff to 14 or 16 teams beginning in 2026, each league getting four automatic bids.

That's half of a 16-team field for those keeping score at home.

The proposed breakdown of a 16-team field: four each for the Big Ten and SEC, two each for the Big 12 and ACC, one for the Group of Five champion, one for Notre Dame if it qualifies and two atlarges.

If it's a 14-team playoff, there are potentially no at-large bids.

I can see the Big 12 and ACC commissioners celebrating.

Each league gets two bids? The Big 12 received one bid last year and, most years, both the Big 12 and ACC would be in line to get one each.

So they're both coming out ahead in this new proposal, right?

I'm not sure they're going to see it that way.

What in the name of Nick Saban is going on here?

The two Bash Brothers are gambling with the future and credibility of college football in the name of more power and money. And don't forget a side of ego.

It's flat out unnecessary. And risky.

First, we've only had the 12team playoff for one year. And most people -- outside of the SEC -- thought it was a rousing success.

There were early blowouts, but the home-field atmospheres were compelling. So were the later games in the major bowls. Everything was spread out just right.

There were big names, little schools and everyone seemed to have a good time. We need more of a sample size before we make tweaks -- or rip it apart.

I get the one change that the SEC/Big Ten talked about Wednesday: Awarding the top four seeds (and byes) according to ranking. I agree. It didn't seem right for Boise State and Arizona State to earn a bye.

If it goes to 16 teams, there won't be any first-round byes. And that will be fine, but an extra week will be added.

So what do you do with the conference title games? That's too much.

If a certain two leagues are getting four bids automatically and those will go according to league standings, do you need a league championship game? No.

The question, and concern, should be what this would do to the rest of college football.

If you know which eight teams are going to make the playoff in November, doesn't that take the drama out of what are typically the biggest games of the year?

College football is at its best with unscripted stories and upsets. But if you know Alabama can lose to an average Oklahoma team and still get in, doesn't the sport suffer? Would the Tide rest players?

What about TV ratings? Would you watch that game?

What about the fans at Washington State or Oklahoma State or Virginia Tech? Are they totally dialed into a playoff that they have very little chance of ever playing in?

Do you start to lose fans over time because the sport is all about the SEC and Big Ten?

College football has always been about the rich and powerful. Bear Bryant used to make the bowl matchups for not only Alabama but other schools, too.

Find the history of the national championship game. You'll see the majority of the two participants were brand names from power leagues. They have run the sport forever.

But this seems over the top. Forced. Unnecessary.

Based on their rosters, the Big Ten and SEC are going to have the majority of teams in a 14or 16-team field. Last year, the SEC only had three -- but it was a down year.

Is that what this is about? I don't think so. There are a couple of other things at work that the two corporation leagues are loading up against. One, is the House settlement, revenue-sharing and the future of NIL. There's a lot of uncertainty as to how many athletes will get paid, which athletes and how much. A lot of schools are going to have to cut back on coaching salaries and facilities to make sure the money flows to the lifeblood of the programs -- talent.

Every school is looking under rocks for new ways to raise money. Expanding the playoff (more TV money) and exercising their right to take most of the till is the Big Ten and SEC finding a new source of revenue.

But this might be protection against something else, too.

It's early but it sure seems like the SEC has been marginalized by NIL, the transfer portal and the new 105 roster. Players who used to sit and develop on SEC rosters are now hitting the road in search of playing time and money.

Evidence is piling up that the portal is evening the playing fields and rosters. Look at what Arizona State did to Texas in the playoff. That wasn't a fluke.

More SEC and Big Ten teams taking up playoff spots means fewer chances for the other guys to crash the playoff party -- and potentially win it.

How does this impact Nebraska?

Four guaranteed spots every year -- maybe a fifth as an atlarge -- sounds good. But that's what the other 17 Big Ten schools are saying, too. Four chances out of 18 adds perspective.

Meanwhile, I'm old enough to remember when the Big Ten's obsession was going to the Rose Bowl. Chasing national championships was something other leagues did.

Now, the Big Ten is not only all in on the playoff, it's driving the bus along with the SEC.

I sure hope they know where they're going.