VALLEY CITY, ND  (NewsDakota.com)  The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is considering a plan to expand their football playoff field from 16 to 20 teams.

If approved by the national body, the changes would go into effect in the fall of 2023, this coming season.  The plan has already been approved by the football coaches’ committee.

Currently, a team qualifies for the NAIA football playoffs if they meet two criteria, which are winning a conference championship and being ranked in the top 20 teams in the nation.  Conference champions that are not ranked in the top 20 do not qualify for the field of 16 teams.

The change would grant all 13 football-playing conferences an automatic playoff bid, no matter their ranking.  The final seven teams would be chosen on an at-large basis.

Valley City State University Athletic Director and head football coach Dennis McCulloch says there is a lot of positivity behind the proposal, and he believes the plan has a quality chance of passage.