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Less than one year into the current College Football Playoff format, the SEC and the Big Ten are reportedly trying to alter it.
The current format includes 12 teams. The top-five ranked conference champions currently get an automatic berth into the playoff, with the top four receiving a first-round bye. Then, seven more teams will qualify via at-large slots.
But the format is undeniably flawed. It not only guarantees spots to the ACC, Big 12 and an additional conference champion. But it also gives two of those three teams a bye, regardless of where they rank in the final College Football Playoff poll of the year.
That means that the fifth seed, likely an at-large team, would square off with one of those teams in the second round. While the top seed will likely face an at-large team that is higher-ranked in the final polls.
The current AP Poll has four SEC teams ranked in the top five and three Big Ten teams ranked in the top 10. Miami is the highest-ranked ACC team at No. 8 and you have to look all the way down to Iowa State at No. 14 to find the highest-ranked Big 12 team.
Now ESPN’s Heather Dinich reports that SEC and Big Ten conference leaders are looking for fix that.
“Sources in both leagues told ESPN on Monday they would prefer to have potentially four automatic bids each to the playoff when the next contract begins in 2026,” Dinich writes. “CFP leaders haven’t determined yet what the playoff will look like beyond this season and next. Some said they need to know that before making any decisions about future scheduling partnerships.”
One SEC source told Dinich that the whole purpose of the meeting between the two sides is to adjust the playoff.
“I’m for anything that gives us the maximum number of postseason opportunities,” the source said. “I don’t count bowl games as postseason opportunities.”
Obviously, the Big 12 and ACC would likely be resistant to that. Particularly so if the playoff itself does not expand. But regardless of how it changes, it’s clear the format probably needs to be tweaked in the immediate future.