The College Football Playoff Board of Managers has unanimously approved a revised 12-team format for the event. The new format will include the five highest-ranked conference champions and seven at-large bids, replacing the original “6+6” model. The adjustment was made to accommodate the recent dismantling of the Pac-12 due to conference realignment.
The board, consisting of 11 chancellors and presidents from each FBS conference along with Notre Dame, met virtually to finalize the adjustment. Previously, Washington State president Kirk Schulz, the Pac-12 representative on the board, had been the only holdout on the change.
A proposal from Schulz, which aimed to provide the two remaining Pac-12 members with equal revenue and voting powers as their peers in power-conference leagues starting in 2026, did not receive much support. However, Washington State and Oregon State will retain their seats on both CFP governing boards and receive Power 5-level payouts for this year and the next.
The upcoming meeting of the commissioners who make up the CFP Management Committee is expected to be contentious. Leaders from the Big Ten and SEC are anticipated to present their desires for the new CFP contract that begins in 2026. It is speculated that these conferences may push for larger revenue shares than those given to the Big 12 and ACC, further widening the gap between the two groups. Additionally, there is a possibility that one or both of these leagues may demand multiple automatic qualifiers per year, potentially up to three or four for one conference.
The original 6+6 model, introduced nearly three years ago alongside the initial proposal to expand to 12 teams, granted automatic Playoff bids to the six highest-ranked conference champions. The remaining at-large bids were given to the next six highest-ranked teams.
Mississippi State president and CFP Board of Managers chair Mark Keenum expressed his support for the revised format, stating that it is a logical adjustment based on the evolution of conference structures since the adoption of the new format in September 2022. Keenum believes that this change will be well-received by student-athletes, coaches, and fans, and looks forward to seeing the new format in action during the postseason.
Under the 12-team format, which will be implemented starting from the 2024 season, the top four conference champions will receive a first-round bye. The remaining teams will compete in first-round matchups, with the 5th seed playing the 12th seed, the 6th seed playing the 11th seed, the 7th seed playing the 10th seed, and the 8th seed playing the 9th seed. The first-round games will be hosted by the 5th to 8th seeds at their respective schools. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be held at the New Year’s Six bowls, including the Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl.
In the revised format, no conference champions will automatically qualify for the field, and there is no limit to the number of at-large bids a conference can earn. However, Oregon State and Washington State, despite continuing to play football under the Pac-12 banner and reaching a scheduling agreement with the Mountain West for the next two years, will not be eligible for the five automatic qualifying spots for conference champions.
The conference commissioners, along with Notre Dame leadership, who form the CFP’s Management Committee will meet in person in Dallas to discuss key structural details for 2026 and beyond. This meeting is part of their ongoing efforts to reach an agreement. ESPN has already agreed to a six-year, $7.8 billion extension to televise the event through 2031-32. However, CFP leaders still need to vote on the deal for it to be finalized.
Overall, the revised 12-team format for the College Football Playoff aims to accommodate the changing landscape of college football conferences. The inclusion of the five highest-ranked conference champions and the flexibility of at-large bids will ensure a more competitive and exciting postseason for student-athletes, coaches, and fans alike.