The Athletic: Should health and safety concerns impact College Football Playoff expansion?

By Nicole Auerbach

One of the biggest concerns surrounding College Football Playoff expansion is the toll playing additional postseason games might take on the health of the players. But what if that’s the wrong way to look at it?

When the NFL added a 17th regular-season game this season, it did so after examining its own data and finding that the injury rate was notably higher in the preseason, according to Washington Commanders head physician Dr. Anthony Casolaro. The NFL took away a preseason game — which decreased the amount of contact players had in the preseason — but kept the extra preseason week in the schedule, allowing for a slower ramp-up period to Week 1, which doctors hoped would mean fewer soft-tissue injuries.

An expanded College Football Playoff would mean an additional game or two for only a handful of teams per season. Casolaro thinks there are two factors for college football leaders to consider as they explore new postseason models: physical health and mental health.

“You have to incorporate that into the schedule,” Casolaro said. “Coaches, trainers and strength and conditioning (staff) who encourage that are going to have much more sustainable teams and more athletes who succeed.”

Read the full story in The Athletic here.