Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported Wednesday that changes could be coming to the College Football Playoff format as soon as this upcoming season.
Leaders from the SEC and Big Ten are pushing for a seeding change in the 2025 CFP so that the seeding would align directly with the selection committee’s rankings. This would eliminate the first-round byes and top four seeds that are given to the four highest-ranked conference champions.
Given the fact that the Big 12 and ACC champions in 2024, Arizona State and Clemson, and the highest-ranked Group of Five champion Boise State weren’t close to a top four ranking, the SEC and Big Ten will be met with pushback. Any change to the 2025 CFP requires unanimity from the 10 FBS leagues and Notre Dame, as it is the last year of the original CFP television contract with ESPN, Dellenger wrote.
Quotes from Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips and Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez indicate the SEC and Big Ten will indeed be met with serious pushback.
Texas College Sports Get the latest college sports news, scores and analysis. SIGN UP Or with: Google Facebook By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
“I do not have the appetite to give up any financial reward that comes with a bye,” Yormark said last month, as the team that automatically advances to the quarterfinals receives an $8 million reward.
“It’s not as if this system is so foreign,” Phillips said, referring to other leagues like the NFL that award automatic byes and bids. “This shouldn’t be used as a convenient rationale. It deserves a review and we should talk about how it went. But it’s not some exotic structure.”
Advertisement
Nevarez added that changes after one year “seem a bit quick,” as her conference’s champion, Boise State, received a first-round bye due to being one of the four highest-ranked conference champions.
While the ACC, Big 12 and Group of Five conferences can push back on the 2025 format, Yahoo Sports reported Sunday that the SEC and Big Ten gain full control of playoff format decisions starting in 2026. The two leagues have been “deeply exploring” an expanded format that gives the SEC and Big Ten as many as four automatic qualifiers.
Such a change would also incline the SEC to finally move towards a nine-game conference schedule.
Advertisement
The CFP Management Committee, which includes the 10 FB conference commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director, are meeting next week in Dallas to discuss potential changes, both in 2025 and potential long-term changes.
Advertisement
Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
RFK Jr. Announces New HHS Guidance Recognizing Only Two Sexes
- Advertisment - 
Recent Comments
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Carlos Sainz’s Soccer Fanboy Emerges as Spaniard Shares Defining Moment With This Real Madrid Legend
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on Ahead of big sports weekend, dispute with Disney leaves millions of cable subscribers in the dark
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Army vs. Coastal Carolina live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez Spreads Joy and Sportsmanship to the Youth of Loma de Cabrera
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports, Serie A announce new TV rights deal; Paramount+ to air over 400 Italian soccer matches
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Angel Reese Launches Foundation Dedicated To Empowering Women Through Sports & Financial Literacy
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer