New playoff model

[GoJacketsInRaleigh]

I think a 24 team playoff is good. No one cares about the Strawberry Douche bowl in freezing cold state so let more teams in like basketball. It works in the FCS level.

Each power conference should have 4 guaranteed spots. I'm sure the SEC and Big Ten will want 6. Whatever. If they don't want to lose conference championship money then let teams play-in that weekend for guarantees. For example, the ACC might guarantee top 2 teams a spot and hold two games championship weekend. IT could be 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5 for spots.

 

[Oldgoldandwhite]

I think a 24 team playoff is good. No one cares about the Strawberry Douche bowl in freezing cold state so let more teams in like basketball. It works in the FCS level.

Each power conference should have 4 guaranteed spots. I'm sure the SEC and Big Ten will want 6. Whatever. If they don't want to lose conference championship money then let teams play-in that weekend for guarantees. For example, the ACC might guarantee top 2 teams a spot and hold two games championship weekend. IT could be 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5 for spots.

Good idea. Have one week off and the conferences can have as many playoffs for their 5 spots they want. Other four go to the smaller conferences.

 

[RamblinRed]

The belief is that if CFP moves to 24 teams that the conference championship games would be done away with as that would likely be the weekend of the 1st round games.

 

[SOWEGA Jacket]

The future of an expanded playoff will absolutely have auto conference bids and then each conference will choose their own method to choose their representatives. One conference may sprint into 4 divisions, one may choose the top 2 and then let the next 4 have play in games.

I don’t think we’ll have auto bids immediately upon expansion to 24 because the SEC and BIG will want more than their fair share of bids which is why they still want polls to be used. However, a few years of that and with turnover of guys like Sankey they’ll be forced into equal distribution of bids at which point the polls will finally be relegated to history as they should.

 

[Mandingo Finkelstein]

The belief is that if CFP moves to 24 teams that the conference championship games would be done away with as that would likely be the weekend of the 1st round games.

I don't think the SEC is going to be supportive of ditching their championship game. Just way too much money made from it - sponsorships, etc. I know a lot of SEC followers who are fine with it going away, but everyone of them then says "however, it just generates too much money to drop it without a lot of debate". Take it FWIW.

 

[LT 1967]

Looks like the CFP will stay at 12 for 2026. See article below with excerpts.

MIAMI, Fla. — Following the College Football Playoff management committee’s meeting Sunday, sources tell On3’s Chris Low that the SEC would prefer to stick with the 12-team format rather than expand to 24 teams. The Big Ten wants a 24-team model, while the SEC – and the other eight conferences, along with Notre Dame – want a 16-team playoff.

Barring an unprecedented move, the expectation is the 12-team model will remain intact for the 2026 season, with a Friday, Jan. 23 deadline looming for expansion. Earlier this week, a Big Ten source told On3’s Brett McMurphy that they would agree to the 16-team model in 2026 if there was a commitment to expand to 24 teams a few years later.

“We probably can get there if there is an actual signed agreement,” the source said. “Not an agreement to agree.”

If an expansion agreement is not in place by Friday, ESPN officials will not grant another extension of the deadline, CFP director Rich Clark said. ESPN, the CFP’s broadcast partner through 2032, previously granted executives an extended deadline from Dec. 1 to Jan. 23.

Clark said that no formal management committee meeting has been set for this week, with the deadline looming. If no expansion decision is made, the 12-team format would stay for the 2026 season. The deadline for expansion in 2027 would be Dec. 1, 2026.

MSN

 

[HurricaneJacket]

I saw somewhere that if the field expands beyond 16 the broadcast rights go back out to bid, so if it stays at 16 or less ESPN keeps all the rights, if it goes to 17 or more then Fox can bid on airing games

 

[Root4GT]

I saw somewhere that if the field expands beyond 16 the broadcast rights go back out to bid, so if it stays at 16 or less ESPN keeps all the rights, if it goes to 17 or more then Fox can bid on airing games

Good info if accurate and it would explain why the B1G (Fox's Conference) is hard over on going to a 24 team CFP.

 

[UgaBlows]

Good info if accurate and it would explain why the B1G (Fox's Conference) is hard over on going to a 24 team CFP.

It needs to be split up, there is too much money and corruption to allow one network and conference to hold all the chips, and leads to officiating like the 2025 uga game

 

[g0lftime]

I don’t want the SEC and Big getting 12 of the 16 teams. Then playing in their own stadium.

That's exactly their plan. The committee is stacked in their favor and until that is corrected, those two conferences will dominate the seeds.

 

[stinger78]

That's exactly their plan. The committee is stacked in their favor and until that is corrected, those two conferences will dominate the seeds.

Yep, and sleepy Jim Phillips, PhD, was snoozing while that discussion happened.

 

[forensicbuzz]

Yep, and sleepy Jim Phillips, PhD, was snoozing while that discussion happened.

I see you're taking after another known narcissist with the name-calling. Nice. Classy.

 

[LT 1967]

I saw somewhere that if the field expands beyond 16 the broadcast rights go back out to bid, so if it stays at 16 or less ESPN keeps all the rights, if it goes to 17 or more then Fox can bid on airing games

Interesting. I asked Copilot (Microsoft AI) and received the following.

So would expansion beyond 16 teams force a new bidding process?​

Based on the reporting:

• The current ESPN deal locks in rights through 2031–32, but it was negotiated around the 12‑team model. From an ESPN article I read, it said the contract was negotiated around an 11 to 13 model),
• Expansion to 16 teams or more would likely require renegotiation, because:
  • It adds more games (first‑round, quarterfinal, etc.)
  • It changes scheduling windows
  • It increases inventory value
• When rights materially change, the CFP can choose to reopen bidding — and other networks (Fox, NBC, Amazon, etc.) have already signaled interest in the past.
• The ABC News report notes that ESPN set a deadline for expansion decisions, which suggests the network wants clarity before committing to additional rights.

 

[Mandingo Finkelstein]

Nothing surprising, but the CFB Playoff Committee says the format will stay in place for 2026. Just passing along.

Source: https://collegefootballplayoff.com/news/2026/1/23/2627-format.aspx

(note, this pretty much reinforces LT 1967's early post rumored by On3...no disrespect intended by perhaps being a bit redundant here)

 

[Oldgoldandwhite]

Nothing surprising, but the CFB Playoff Committee says the format will stay in place for 2026. Just passing along.

Source: https://collegefootballplayoff.com/news/2026/1/23/2627-format.aspx

(note, this pretty much reinforces LT 1967's early post rumored by On3...no disrespect intended by perhaps being a bit redundant here)

ND get an automatic bid?

 

[Mandingo Finkelstein]

ND get an automatic bid?

Their game at BYU was announced for mid-October a day or two ago. This was a replacement for ND and Southern Cal canceling their originally scheduled game. Their schedule is weak. Not completely their fault to be fair. For instance, I'm sure when the game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field to start the season was originally scheduled, many thought it would be a good game. But, the Badgers have become a non-threat. You never know I guess.

They have what will be major-hyped home game against Miami Nov. 7 and this after the roadie in Provo. Otherwise, they likely can sleep walk to 10 wins. Other than Miami, at least on paper, their collection of ACC opponents don't really drive fear into anyone.

Notre Dame does have IN MY OPINION a public relations problem though. Their AD (who I call Crybaby B.) did them no favors in what I'm sure he thought was a brave move to defend their honor when not included in the playoffs. I think it backfired big time and just pissed off the rest of the college FB loving world. Just my opinion mind you.

 

[Root4GT]

Their game at BYU was announced for mid-October a day or two ago. This was a replacement for ND and Southern Cal canceling their originally scheduled game. Their schedule is weak. Not completely their fault to be fair. For instance, I'm sure when the game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field to start the season was originally scheduled, many thought it would be a good game. But, the Badgers have become a non-threat. You never know I guess.

They have what will be major-hyped home game against Miami Nov. 7 and this after the roadie in Provo. Otherwise, they likely can sleep walk to 10 wins. Other than Miami, at least on paper, their collection of ACC opponents don't really drive fear into anyone.

Notre Dame does have IN MY OPINION a public relations problem though. Their AD (who I call Crybaby B.) did them no favors in what I'm sure he thought was a brave move to defend their honor when not included in the playoffs. I think it backfired big time and just pissed off the rest of the college FB loving world. Just my opinion mind you.

AS half their games are against ACC teams. You are saying the ACC is a candy *** conference . Of course we all know teams in January may be nothing like the team in September - November.

 

[Mandingo Finkelstein]

AS half their games are against ACC teams. You are saying the ACC is a candy *** conference . Of course we all know teams in January may be nothing like the team in September - November.

Ha ha. Yes in 2026 it appears that way. They know they have a W in the back pocket against Navy. They have to travel down the road to Purdue for what will be the 2nd and 3rd best teams in the state of Indiana. (just had to throw that in there) Michigan State and Rice at home. Spartans have played them many times. Always a ND blowout. Rice? OK. And here comes the ACC... Stanford, BC, and SMU at home. Maybe SMU can give them a game in the freezing cold of late November in Michiana.

They better beat Miami. Beating BYU in Provo would help their cause of course too.

 

[ThatGuy]

Their game at BYU was announced for mid-October a day or two ago. This was a replacement for ND and Southern Cal canceling their originally scheduled game. Their schedule is weak. Not completely their fault to be fair. For instance, I'm sure when the game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field to start the season was originally scheduled, many thought it would be a good game. But, the Badgers have become a non-threat. You never know I guess.

They have what will be major-hyped home game against Miami Nov. 7 and this after the roadie in Provo. Otherwise, they likely can sleep walk to 10 wins. Other than Miami, at least on paper, their collection of ACC opponents don't really drive fear into anyone.

Notre Dame does have IN MY OPINION a public relations problem though. Their AD (who I call Crybaby B.) did them no favors in what I'm sure he thought was a brave move to defend their honor when not included in the playoffs. I think it backfired big time and just pissed off the rest of the college FB loving world. Just my opinion mind you.

Agreed with it pissing off the majority of the CFB fans.

And yet,the folks on TV aren’t pissed off. Throughout the offseason and into next year, the ESPN pundits will continue to beat the drum of “how good ND is.” and by fall 2026, that will be what’s commonly accepted.

 

[Mandingo Finkelstein]

Agreed with it pissing off the majority of the CFB fans.

And yet,the folks on TV aren’t pissed off. Throughout the offseason and into next year, the ESPN pundits will continue to beat the drum of “how good ND is.” and by fall 2026, that will be what’s commonly accepted.

Agree to a degree. However, I think the public perception is starting to change about them. I think the CFB loving world that is so conference-focused is starting to look at them differently far more profoundly than ever in the past. I've admittedly used the words "I think" twice in this reply so it may be just my perception. I think ND has to be near perfect in their schedule now. The shine and consideration they once possessed is fading...again, just one goofball's opinion.