ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. — American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti advocated for expanded College Football Playoff access and expressed support for federal legislation regulating college athletics during the conference's football media day on Friday in St. Petersburg, Florida.

He stated that if the College Football Playoff field doubles, Group of Six conference bids should also double. The CFP Board of Managers voted in 2023 to expand the playoff to 12 teams beginning in 2024, an arrangement that will last at least through the end of the 2026 season. After 2026, additional expansion to a 14-team playoff or larger may take place.

"We're asking for two things -- fairness and common sense. Here's a fact - 51% of FBS schools competing in football are outside the autonomy conferences. So, in any expanded format, including the one you're reading about that could double the field to 24 teams, access should double for everyone," he said.

He also expressed support for the Protect College Sports Act during his address to reporters. The bill is co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell. It focuses on NIL regulation and the implementation of a one-time transfer policy.

"It's time for structure in college sports. While this bill isn't perfect, it addresses the core challenges facing the industry, led and headlined by transfers and eligibility," he said. "It demands that NIL deals have a legitimate business purpose. I promise you this, that will put an end to these sham pay-for-play deals that are turning recruiting into this unchecked auction."

Army joined the American Conference as a football member in 2024. Navy has been a football member of the conference since 2015. Navy has recorded seasons of 11-2 and 10-3 over the past two years and has a 13-3 record in conference games over the past two seasons. The team appeared in the AP poll in each of the past two seasons.

"Army and Navy being in our conferences has been great for us, but their engagement enabled me to create engagement in Washington, D.C. which got me in the room as part of these committees for college sports," he said. He previously served as the commissioner of the Big East Conference. Pernetti was named commissioner of the American Conference as the successor to Mike Aresco on Dec. 7, 2023, and took office on June 1, 2024.