The idea for a field as large as 28 teams was presented to Big Ten athletic directors for the first time last week, one source said.

Despite a 17th-place projected finish in the Big Ten Conference this season, Northwestern football got a boost from Fox Sports national college football analyst RJ Young Thursday. The Wildcats were ranked in the top half of all 136 teams.

If the Big Ten’s new proposal does indeed take shape but stops at 24 teams, the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) will also have the same number of teams as the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) playoff format. In the new format, up to 20 games will take place on campus before advancing to the bowl games in later rounds.