CFP may expand again
Report: 14-team format discussed for CFP in 2026
The CFP may expand again. The CFP management committee discussed the idea of a 14-team format Wednesday, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Sources: The idea of a 14-team College Football Playoff was discussed by the CFP management committee at meetings in the Dallas area today. If that happened, it would begin in 2026. Nothing is imminent, but it’s significant this idea was discussed.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 21, 2024
A potential change from 12 to 14 playoff teams would take place in 2026, according to Thamel. The move reportedly isn’t imminent. Adding auto-bids for each conference in the playoffs was also discussed, per Chris Vannini of The Athletic.
Today’s College Football Playoff commissioners meeting included a discussion of growing the field to 14 or more in 2026 and beyond.
Also discussed potentially more auto-bids for leagues.
“We discussed everything,” AAC commissioner Mike Aresco says. “No conclusions.”
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) February 21, 2024
In 2022, the College Football Playoff decided to expand to 12 teams for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, a significant increase from four teams. The new format will feature the five highest-ranked conference champions and seven at-large participants. No conference will be guaranteed a berth, but we already know four conference champions will have preferential treatment.
The new 12-team layout was originally slated to be a 6+6 format. However, the CFP board unanimously approved a 5+7 format Tuesday.
ESPN extension
ESPN and the College Football Playoff recently agreed to an extension that’ll make the network the home of the tournament through the 2031-32 season.
Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama were the top four teams and would’ve received first-round byes this past season under the new 12-team format. A 14-team playoff field would’ve also featured Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Missouri, Penn State, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, LSU, and Arizona based on the final 2023 College Football Playoff rankings.
Will this last?
Considering the new(est) format lasted a day…well, two years technically. One has to ask, how often will this continue to expand? The old argument was, if you let eight teams in, number nine will complain. That argument could continue exponentially.
The new format (5+7), feels right.