College Football Playoffs Could See an Expansion

CHICAGO,IL-  The College Football Playoffs could see an expansion from 4 teams to 12 teams.

ESPN reported that the top six ranked teams and the top six highest ranked conference champions would make the college football playoffs according to the new proposal.

In the 12 team format the 1-4 seeded team would be the highest ranked conference champions and they would receive a first round bye week. The eight other teams would play on the home field of the higher ranked team.

The quarter finals and semifinals would be bowl games and the National Championship would continue to be at a neutral site.

Also, no conference would automatically qualify and no cap on the number of teams from a single conference. So any number of SEC, Big 10, ACC teams could potentially make the playoffs.

The subcommittee that wrote the proposal consists of Bob Bowlsby, Greg Sankey, Jack Swarbick, and Craig Thompson. All but Swarbick, who is the athletic director at Notre Dame, are commissioners of the Big 12, SEC, and Mountain West conferences.

The meeting is scheduled to take place on June 17-18 where 10 FBS conference commissioners and Swarbick must agree on the new playoff format.

The group who proposed the 12 team playoff said “The four team format has been very popular and is a big success. But it’s important that we consider the opportunities for more teams and more student-athletes to participate in the playoffs.”.

College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock said the committee could agree on a different format or leave the college football playoffs the way they currently are.

If this group comes to a consensus on a new format, that plan would then be submitted to College Football Playoff presidents and chancellors in Dallas on June 22nd.

Also, the expansion would not be implemented this year should it be approved because the current deal was for 12 years. That deal ends with the 2025-2026 season.