The College Football Playoff is sticking with its 12-team format through 2026 - and that decision says a lot about the current power dynamics in the sport. Despite months of behind-the-scenes discussions, the Big Ten and SEC couldn’t find common ground on what the future of the CFP should look like. And until they do, expansion is on hold.
Here’s where things stand: the Big Ten has been pushing for a 24-team playoff model, one that would include multiple automatic qualifiers per conference. Think of it as a broader, more inclusive bracket - but one that would still heavily favor the power leagues.
The SEC, on the other hand, has been championing a more streamlined 16-team setup, specifically a “5+11” format. That plan would guarantee spots to the five highest-ranked conference champions, with the remaining 11 teams earning at-large bids based on rankings.
The SEC’s model has the support of both the ACC and Big 12.
The Big Ten has floated a compromise: they’d be willing to go with 16 teams - for now - if the other conferences agree to revisit and potentially adopt a 24-team format in the future. But that’s a big “if,” and for the moment, no deal has been struck.
So, the 12-team playoff lives on - at least for one more season.
The second year of the expanded format just wrapped up with Indiana claiming the national title in a win over Miami. That marked the third straight championship for the Big Ten, following Michigan in 2023 and Ohio State in 2024.
It’s a run that’s shifted the balance of power in college football. Meanwhile, the SEC hasn’t sent a team to the title game since Georgia beat TCU to close out the 2022 season - a stat that’s hard to ignore in these playoff conversations.
Still, not everyone is sold on expanding just for the sake of it. “There’s no momentum to expand just for the sake of expanding,” a power conference executive said.
“There’s this notion that college sports are really good about being reactionary and taking a short-term gain and not looking at the long-term implications of it.” Translation: bigger isn’t always better - at least not without a clear plan.
That said, the 12-team format isn’t staying exactly the same in 2026. The CFP management committee is making some key tweaks.
Starting next season, all four Power Four conference champions will be guaranteed a playoff spot, regardless of their final ranking. That’s a shift from previous years, when a lower-ranked champion could be left out.
Notre Dame, which remains independent, will also get a guaranteed at-large bid if it finishes inside the top 12 of the final CFP rankings. That’s a notable change, especially after what happened this past season: Duke won the ACC with an 8-5 record but didn’t make the playoff because it wasn’t ranked in the top 25. Notre Dame, meanwhile, finished at No. 11 - just outside the cutoff.
The jockeying for influence continues behind the scenes. The Big Ten and SEC hold the most sway in shaping the playoff’s future, but the ACC and Big 12 are still pushing hard for equal access. That means guaranteed spots for all Power Four conference champions and a structure that doesn’t tilt too far toward any one league.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has said he’s open to a 24-team playoff, though he prefers the 16-team model. ACC commissioner Jim Phillips has been more direct - he’s firmly behind the “5+11” plan.
So where does that leave us? In a holding pattern, for now.
The 12-team playoff will roll on into 2026, with some updates to the qualification rules. But the bigger question - how large the field should be, and who gets in - is still very much up for debate.
And as long as the Big Ten and SEC remain divided, don’t expect any sweeping changes just yet.