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01/23 11:22 CST College Football Playoff to remain at 12 teams after SEC and
Big Ten fail to agree on expansion
College Football Playoff to remain at 12 teams after SEC and Big Ten fail to
agree on expansion
IRVING, Texas (AP) --- The College Football Playoff will remain at 12 teams
after the commissioners of the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten couldn't
come up with a compromise for expansion.
The CFP Management Committee announced Friday the 12-team format would stay the
same for the 2026-27 season. The decision provides additional time for
evaluation and discussion on the current format and potential changes in the
future.
The CFP went from four teams to 12 teams for the 2024 season, and the two most
powerful conferences favored further expansion but could not agree on a number.
The SEC pushed for 16 teams, with an emphasis on at-large bids --- a format
favored by the Power Four leagues other than the Big Ten and most of the
smaller conferences that are hoping for access into whatever comes next.
The Big Ten has pushed for a bracket of up to 24 teams with multiple automatic
qualifiers from each conference. It could do away with the need for conference
title games and replace them with seeding games to determine, say, two or three
of the automatic spots.
"After ongoing discussion about the 12-team playoff format, the decision was
made to continue with the current structure," CFP executive director Rich Clark
said. "This will give the Management Committee additional time to review the
12-team format, so they can better assess the need for potential change. While
they all agree the current format has brought more excitement to college
football and has given more schools a real shot in the postseason, another year
of evaluation will be helpful."
The 2026-27 season's format will feature 12 teams based on conference champions
and final ranking by the CFP selection committee. First-round games will be
played on campus sites, followed by quarterfinals and semifinals hosted by the
CFP bowls, and the national championship game, which will take place at
Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 25, 2027.
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