You can usually count on longtime sports analyst Danny Kanell to be a bit of a contrarian when it comes to college football. But his most recent decision to go after the people opposing the recently-announced expansion to the College Football Playoff might be his biggest uphill battle yet.
On Saturday, Kanell took to X and said that he he noticed several "categories" that people who oppose the expansion seem to have. He noted that they either "grew up in the 90's," are currently SEC fans and/or are employed by ESPN.
Kanell then explained that "90's" people grew up in a great era of college football but pointed out that the game has changed too much.
"If you grew up in the 90’s I get it. It was a great era. But the sport is completely unrecognizable now. Life before cell phones was great too. Doesn’t mean we should go backwards," he wrote.
As for the SEC fans and ESPN employees, he criticized them for being too biased.
"SEC fans love the old system because they got every single advantage. Teams guaranteed multiple spots in BCS or in the 4 team playoffs. That monopoly is gone and they want it back.
"ESPN owns the post season. If it expands they have to share it. BUT that actually be incredibly healthy for the sport as a whole. No more conspiracy theories about why analysts are campaigning for certain teams or that ESPN is influencing the committee."
Defending the Indefensible
As much as Kanell might have enjoyed taking a few shots at some college football power brokers, college football fans found some of his criticisms of the CFP critics to be downright mutinous.
"As a guy born in the 2000’s, Big Ten fan, and not employed by ESPN…… I think I can speak for most when I say the playoff expansion is dumb as hell," one user remarked.
"The funniest thing is your very first point is 'the sport is completely unrecognizable now.' That’s the problem you dolt," another criticized.
"I'm an Ohio State fan. Grew up in Big Ten country. I (expletive) hate the expansion. ESPN would love an expansion. Means more money for them. This is a brain dead take," a third wrote.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 07: Danny Kanell speaks on SiriusXM at Super Bowl LVIII on February 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)Cindy Ord/Getty Images
"The landscape has changed so much there are now 24 teams capable of winning a national title. Sure thing bud."
"I grew up in the 90s, unfortunately I’m a diehard Arkansas fan but I NEVER root for the conference, I’m not employed by espn … I think the the CFP should be 16 teams with no byes for anyone 🤷🏼♂️ and no reseeding if a 16 beats a 1 lol … now how you determine those 16 teams fairly, good luck… no one will ever agree on that so what’s the point in arguing over it."
Kanell might think that his point is well-reasoned and well thought out. But the fact of the matter is that there are plenty of loud voices who are none of what he described and still despise the looming 24-team College Football Playoff with every fiber of their being.
This story was originally published by The Spun on May 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
