Vanderbilt Quarterback Urges Trump to Expand College Football Playoff Field

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — December 4, 2025 — Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia has publicly called on President Donald Trump to intervene in the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection process by issuing an executive order to expand the playoff field. Pavia made the appeal on social media days before the final CFP bracket is set to be announced.

The current College Football Playoff features a 12-team field, but Pavia and others have expressed dissatisfaction with the selection committee’s decisions. Vanderbilt, with only two losses this season to SEC opponents Alabama and Texas, did not qualify for the SEC Championship and remains outside the playoff field with no remaining games to influence their standing.

Pavia responded to a social media post advocating for expanding the CFP to 16 teams, proposing a structure that would include four teams each from the SEC and Big Ten, two from the ACC, two from the Big 12, and four at-large bids. The post criticized the existing committee system, calling for its elimination due to perceived lack of transparency and justification.

The CFP committee’s penultimate rankings have sparked debate among fans and analysts, particularly regarding teams like the Miami Hurricanes, who are currently excluded despite holding a head-to-head advantage over Notre Dame. Upcoming conference championship games, including the Big 12 title game where BYU recently lost to Texas Tech, and the SEC championship featuring Alabama and Georgia, could further impact playoff selections.

The controversy surrounding the CFP has even drawn lighthearted commentary from political figures, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio joking about Trump taking over the committee during a CNN appearance. Meanwhile, the debate continues over whether teams with multiple losses, such as Alabama, should remain in contention.

As the final CFP field approaches, calls for reform and expansion remain a prominent topic among players, fans, and commentators alike.

Written By

Marcus Reed

Marcus Reed follows major U.S. leagues, college sports and big events with an eye for the business, culture and community stories that live beyond the scoreboard.

View Full Bio & Articles →