College Football Playoff Announces New 12-Team Playoff Format

Tentatively scheduled to start in 2026

The College Football Playoff Board of Managers announced on Friday that they had unanimously voted for a 12-team playoff format change from the current 4-team playoff format.

Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbach

Official:

The new format would have the 6 highest ranked conference champions. The remaining 6 slots would be at-large bids.

The top 4 highest ranked conference champions would get a first round by with the remaining 8 teams playing for a chance in the Quarterfinals. The higher seeds would host the lower seed in the first round of games consisting of the 5 through 12 seed.

Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbach

Here is specifically what the CFP Board of Managers approved today:

Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbach

Approved CFP model allows for first-round games to be played on either the second or third weekend in December, with at least 12 days between the conference championship games and the first-round games.

According to Nicole Auerbach, the management committee will implement the decision by 2026 and in 2024 or 2025, if possible.

Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbach

CFP Management Committee — 10 FBS commissioners & ND AD — will implement the board’s decision, including determining such matters as dates for games, broadcast entities, revenue allocations, sites of the 11 games, and the term of the agreement. And if 2024 or 2025 is possible.

Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbach

CFP board chair Mark Keenum says the 12-team format will begin "for sure" in time for the 2026 regular season but they're asking the commissioners to explore the feasibility of implementing it in time for 2024 or 2025. Acknowledges significant logistical hurdles to do so.

Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbach

CFP board chair Mark Keenum: "It's time for us to make a decision. We need to give direction to our commissioners. This is where we are, this is where we think college football needs to be headed."

College Football Playoff @CFBPlayoff

𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: College Football Playoff Board of Managers Votes to Expand Playoff to 12 Teams Details on today's meeting » collegefootballplayoff.com/news/2022/9/2/… #CFBPlayoff 🏈🏆

Times are changing in College Football, and rapidly at that. Let us know what you think of the developments today on the eve of College Football’s Week 1 Saturday.