Texas football: Why Longhorns AD Chris Del Conte wants to see CFP expanded

Under two months after Texas football missed out on the College Football Playoff by three spots in the rankings, Longhorns Athletic Director Chris Del Conte came out in support of an expanded playoff field. 

But, speaking at his annual town hall Wednesday night, Del Conte didn’t cite Texas’ snub as he explained his thinking. 

Instead, Del Conte said he believes an expanded playoff field would help protect the sanctity of the regular season. 

So, what’s Del Conte’s logic?

Through two years of the 12-team playoff format, the selection committee has shown that loss prevention is the name of the game. Every at-large bid has been awarded to a team with two or fewer regular-season losses. In 2025, Texas beat three teams ranked inside the top-10 at the time of the matchup, but was only an afterthought on selection day because it had three defeats on its ledger — one of which came in a road nonconference game against Ohio State, then the defending national champ. 

If CFP qualification is the goal, avoiding difficult nonconference games looks like the best practice at the moment. But Del Conte wants those types of games on Texas’ schedule. 

He thinks expanding the playoff can help protect them by creating an increased margin for error. 

“We can play three cream puffs, and then we can play an SEC schedule,” Del Conte said. “But if the playoff is going to expand, which I prefer the playoff expands, you want to then have great games, and value those great games as long as we have the opportunity to get into the postseason.” 

Texas football: Chris Del Conte favors expanded playoff 

Del Conte did not elaborate on what type of expanded playoff format he’d like to see, beyond pointing out that about 44% of NFL teams qualify for the postseason, while roughly 9% of FBS college football programs crack the CFP. 

The CFP management committee announced last month that the 12-team format will stick around in 2026. The SEC has reportedly backed a 16-team model, while the Big Ten favors a 24-team field. 

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In advocating for expansion, Del Conte hopes he can continue Texas’ current scheduling practices. 

Excluding the pandemic year, the Longhorns have played a ranked nonconference foe in every season since Del Conte’s hire in December 2017. They have home games lined up with Ohio State and Michigan in the next two seasons, which Del Conte and football coach Steve Sarkisian have both said Texas will honor. A home-and-home with Notre Dame in 2028 and 2029 is signed, but neither Del Conte nor Sarkisian has reaffirmed UT’s commitment to playing those games. 

“I prefer to preserve the regular season by playing great games and not dumbing down your schedule and playing nobody with the hopes that you can get in the playoff,” Del Conte said. 

Texas receives millions from suites as part of renovations to DKR 

How’d you like to call a suite home for a few hours every time the Longhorns play?

It’ll cost you eight figures. 

MORE: After a 1-year break, Longhorns will again host a spring game

As part of renovations to Royal-Memorial Stadium taking place this offseason, the Longhorns are moving the press box from the 50-yard line to the southern end zone. In the spot where the press used to sit, Texas added 10 suites — and sold them for $10 million a pop. 

“Why would you create more suites? Well, you got to pay for an indoor (football practice facility,” Del Conte said. 

Season ticket prices set to increase 

Del Conte and the Texas athletic department are raising season ticket prices by 7% this season, he said, pointing out that the Longhorns will play one more home game than they did last year. 

Tickets for the Red River Rivalry game against Oklahoma are moving to $250 each, too. 

Both of those prices are set for a three-year freeze following this year’s escalation, Del Conte said. 

“I understand your investment,” Del Conte said, speaking to fans. “I understand what this is, your economics. I’m looking at how we’re running the enterprise, and this is where we’re at.”