The future of the College Football Playoff continues to dominate the sport's landscape, and Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith acknowledged Tuesday that momentum for expanding to a 16-team format is building.

"Sixteen just seems to be out there," Smith told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Tuesday.

"You can't ignore it."

Smith was referring to speculation about how to expand the postseason when the four-team format expires after the 2025 campaign, adding that no official talks have taken place.