College Football Playoff Format Under Review by SEC and Big Ten
In the world of college football, significant changes may be on the way. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Big Ten are preparing for a crucial meeting next month where they will reassess the College Football Playoff (CFP) format and look toward its future. This gathering is slated for February 19 in New Orleans, just ahead of another important meeting of CFP commissioners in Dallas.
This joint meeting is a continuation of an emerging partnership between the SEC and Big Ten, which began their collaborative efforts last spring. Their first official gathering took place in Nashville last October, marking a notable step in the history of NCAA conferences.
The primary focus of the upcoming meeting will center on the potential alterations to the CFP format and governance, especially as the college sports landscape transitions into a new phase of athlete revenue sharing. A significant settlement concerning athlete rights is set to go before a vote in April, with an implementation planned for July.
One of the central topics will be the expansion of the playoff format, particularly regarding what it will look like starting in 2026, when a new six-year extension of the CFP begins. The Big Ten and SEC feel they possess considerable influence over any proposed changes to the playoff, especially since the current playoff structure will require unanimous agreement from all ten NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conference commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director for any modifications to be made in 2025, which seems unlikely given the circumstances.
During their last collaboration, both leagues agreed upon a revenue distribution model. Although future playoff formats remained undetermined, they did settle on providing an automatic spot for the five highest-ranked conference champions, the size of the playoff field (whether it will involve 12 or 14 teams), and guarantees for independent teams like Notre Dame based on their ranking.
As discussions continue, it has become clear that opinions on the format can vary widely. Participating executives may advocate for a design that would allow for multiple automatic qualifiers from the same conference. For example, one proposal circulating would allow both the SEC and Big Ten to have four automatic slots each, while the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Big 12 could receive two each. This model would then leave one spot for the top Group of Five champion and one at-large, likely for an independent such as Notre Dame.
If the model were applied this year, additional teams from the SEC and Big 12—specifically Alabama and Iowa State—would have secured playoff standings. In terms of scheduling and playoffs, there’s a push from certain commissioners, like Jim Phillips from the ACC, to consider revamping the championship weekend to be more exciting and relevant. This could involve rethinking the roles of regular season champions in favor of a more tournament-style structure.
Beyond playoff talk, the SEC and Big Ten have more pressing issues regarding the evolving landscape of college athletics, especially in the wake of recent settlements that necessitate a fresh approach to revenue sharing for student-athletes. A transition team composed of athletic directors from the power leagues is currently working on addressing these complexities.
There are several hurdles ahead for these conferences as well, including objections to the athlete revenue sharing settlement that have been gathered from various stakeholders. This settlement deals with the fate of numerous scholarships and roster sizes expected from the new agreement.
Moreover, discussions about governance models are underway, as the power conferences seek to sharpen their authority within the NCAA framework. They aim to gain more autonomy in decision-making processes related to postseason championships and overall governance.
In the realm of scheduling, talks are underway to establish better matchups between these prominent leagues in a bid to enhance revenue, especially as current bowl agreements will expire after the 2025 season.
As the SEC and Big Ten navigate this evolving landscape, the focus remains on innovating ways to maximize financial outcomes while ensuring a competitive and fair environment for college athletes. The decisions made in the upcoming meetings will inevitably shape the future of college football, making this an important time for the sport and its stakeholders.
