College Football Playoff board push playoff teams format expansion

September 3, 2022

The College Football Playoff’s board of managers push the college football playoff teams expansion in 2024. The decision was made with the college football planned to expand into a 12-team format in 2026 on Friday, while they were in urging to implement the new format soon, according to ABC News.

The College Football Playoff board of managers is pushing for the expansion of college football playoff teams in 2024. The decision was made on Friday, with college football set to expand to a 12-team format in 2026, but the new format is expected to be in 2024, according to ABC News.

Mississippi State president and chair of the CFP's board of managers, Mark Keenum said that the presidents of the board had discussed the probability to implement the expansion as soon as possible.

"There are still quite a few issues that have to be resolved some very obvious logistical issues that have to be resolved but our hope is that we can get [the commissioners] to move on this as quickly as it is possible to do so," Keenum said.

"We have asked our commissioners, the management committee, to explore the possibility of us beginning the 12-team playoff format before the 2026 season, in either 2024 or 2025,” he added.

According to ESPN's Heather Dinich, a total of 11 presidents of the CFP boards and chancellors had approved the original 12-team model to be implemented in the playoffs.

The format will include six highest-ranked conference champions and six at-large teams, which will be determined by the CFB Playoff selection committee from the top 25 teams.

Moreover, it was reported that 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick are going to have a meeting next Thursday in Irving, Texas, to discuss the 12 teams format as early as 2024.

12-team playoff format scenario

The 12-team format was initially suggested by SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, Swarbrick, Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson and former Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby.

Despite facing criticism when publicly informed in June 2021, the CFP board managed to announce the official decision to implement a 12-team playoff format.

As per the ABC News report, several conferences, namely Atlantic Coast Conference Football the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 reportedly had rejected the clause.

However, after USC and UCLA committed to the Big Ten in the summer, the issue floated away. It was also reported that the historic television deal of Big Ten was the main reason that drive the decision.

The CFP selection committee will determine the 12-team format, with the four highest-ranked conference champions seeded from first to fourth seed with each earning a first-round bye. Then, the fifth seed through 12 seed will face each other in the first round.

Moreover, the team who manage to reach the quarterfinals and semifinals will play bowl games format, the championship game will be at a neutral site.

With the 12-teams format, Sankey said that the CFP board will create more access for teams and conferences to compete in championship events.

"As originally proposed, the 12-team playoff creates more access for teams and conferences across the country to compete in college football's championship event," Sankey said.

"There is work to be done to make this format a reality, but I am pleased we are all moving in the same direction with a common purpose."

On the other hand, the Pac-12 said that the organization agree with the decision and were looking forward to the implementation of the12-team format in near future.

"The Pac-12 is strongly in favor of CFP expansion and welcomes the decision of the CFP Board," the Pac-12's statement reads.

"CFP expansion will provide increased access and excitement and is the right thing for our student-athletes and fans. We look forward to working with our fellow conferences to finalize the important elements of an expanded CFP in order to launch as soon practicable."

Hinch reported that the CFP board's final decision on whether to play the 12-team playoff format in 2024 or 2025 could take weeks to months due to potential issues regarding the venues, hotels, television contracts, and finance.

Jake
Jake Williams
Jake Williams is a sports gambling expert. He's been writing in the sports betting and DFS industry for over a decade. He specializes in MLB and NBA, along with College Basketball and College Football.