In a major development that could reshape the future of college football, the four power conference commissioners met in person Thursday in New York to discuss critical issues, including a revamped College Football Playoff (CFP) structure, according to a report from Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger.
Sources told Yahoo Sports that the Big Ten and SEC – the two dominant forces in college football’s new era – continue to advocate for multiple automatic qualifiers (AQs) for their leagues in an expanded playoff format. This idea is gaining momentum, with a 16-team bracket now emerging as the preferred model.
Proposed 16-Team Format Taking Shape
Under the proposed structure, the bracket would look like this:
- 4 automatic qualifiers from the SEC
- 4 automatic qualifiers from the Big Ten
- 2 from the ACC
- 2 from the Big 12
- 1 Group of Five conference champion
- 3 at-large bids
This 4-4-2-2-1-3 model would give the SEC and Big Ten a combined eight guaranteed playoff spots—half the field—solidifying their dominant influence over the sport.
One of the most unique features of this proposal is the introduction of season-ending inner-league play-in games, such as 3rd-place vs. 6th-place and 4th vs. 5th, which would determine final conference playoff seedings. This approach would create a mini-playoff within the regular season, generating more late-season drama and, critically, more revenue opportunities.
Timeline and Next Steps
A decision on the future playoff structure is expected within the next month or two, and it will likely be influenced by the upcoming spring meetings of the Big Ten and SEC later this month.
The stakes are especially high for the Southeastern Conference, which is considering a shift to a 9-game conference schedule—a change that could reshape scheduling dynamics across the sport. However, this move is contingent on two key factors:
- Agreement on the new CFP structure.
- Securing additional revenue from ESPN, the SEC’s primary media partner, to compensate for the added high-stakes matchups.
Why This Matters
The current 12-team CFP format is locked in through the 2025 season, but starting in 2026, control over the playoff format shifts to the conferences, with the Big Ten and SEC holding a significant share of power. This power dynamic shift has led to strategic alignments, including increased cooperation between the two leagues.
By advocating for multiple AQs and a larger bracket, the SEC and Big Ten aim to ensure that their deep and competitive rosters are consistently rewarded with postseason access, while also capitalizing on the sport’s financial boom driven by TV deals, NIL, and expanding fan interest.
What’s Next?
Expect this conversation to dominate spring meetings as the conferences jockey for position in shaping the future of the CFP. If the 16-team model moves forward, it would mark the most significant change in the playoff era—and a clear sign that college football is moving closer to a professionalized, revenue-driven postseason structure.
Stay tuned as the decision looms in the months ahead. The future of the College Football Playoff—and perhaps college football as a whole—may be decided sooner than we think.
