The Playoffs – Committee evaluates expansion of College Football Playoff to 12 teams

College Football Playoff may adopt a new format. As revealed this Friday (11) by the executive director of the committee, Bill Hancock, the CFP is evaluating the possibility of expanding participation to 12 teams from the 2025 season.

The FBS postseason expansion proposal was drafted by a subcommittee consisting of Bob Bowlsby (Big 12 Commissioner), Greg Sankey (SEC Commissioner), Jack Swarbrick (Director of Notre Dame as representative of the independent teams) and Craig Thompson (Commissioner of Mountain West). College Football Playoff’s new format would guarantee the participation of the six highest-ranked conference champions, while the remaining six teams would be defined exclusively by national rankings.

Hancock explained that the expansion of the playoffs offered opportunities for other teams.

“The core of this proposal is to create greater participation, with a greater number of players and universities. In short, this is the message of our working group”.

In addition to expanding the playoffs, the proposal also aims to reduce the feeling of injustice for those left out of the national team, a frequent problem in the four-team format. The point was raised by Bob Bowlsby.

“We, the commissioners of the Power Five conferences, underestimate how difficult it is to finish out of the four-team playoffs. I believe that was a factor. There was certainly a feeling of consternation among those who were left out at one time or another, so that was an element.”

The ten FBS representatives will hold a meeting in Chicago next Friday (18th). This will be the first face-to-face meeting between conference commissioners and representatives of independent teams since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco has shown support for the proposal and sees no major obstacles to approval.

“I think it’s hard to criticize her. It’s a well thought out plan. I like the concept of balancing FBS, where every team has a chance. In this sense, there is no flaw or weakness that stands out”.

Bowlsby followed along the same lines, highlighting the increase in competitiveness with the new format.

“The practical effect of this is that in the last four or five weeks of the season, there will be 25 or 30 teams with a genuine chance, a real opportunity to participate. This will give us great October and November”.

Under the new format, the four conference champions with the highest ranking position will earn a bye. Seeds 5 to 12 will compete in the first round of the playoffs in head-to-head confrontation. Independent teams cannot be seeded in the top 4. Thus, these universities will not be entitled to a bye in the first round, even if they finish in the top 4 of the national ranking.

If conference representatives and independents approve the new format, the proposal will then be taken to the next meeting of the FBS board, scheduled for the 22nd of this month in Dallas. With the approval of the directors, it remains to be decided how and when the new format will be implemented. It is noteworthy that the change will not be immediate, and will only take place four years from now.

(Photo: Twitter/NCAA Football Playback)