CFP does not rule out “adjustments” to 12-team format for 2025

ATLANTA — No major decisions were made Sunday regarding the future format of the 12-team College Football Playoff, but “adjustments” to the 2025 season have not been ruled out, CFP Executive Director Rich Clark said .

Sunday’s annual meeting of FBS commissioners and the presidents and chancellors who control the playoffs was not expected to result in an immediate course of action, but it was the first time people with the power to change the playoffs have met in person to begin a review. of the historical enlarged section.

Clark said the group talked about “a lot of really important issues,” but that the meeting at Signia by Hilton paved the way for bigger decisions that need to be made “very soon.”

Commissioners would need to unanimously agree on any changes to the 12-team format in order to implement it for the 2025 season.

“I would say it’s possible, but I don’t know if it’s going to happen or not,” Clark said on the eve of the College Football Playoff national championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame. “There are probably some things that could happen in the short term that could be adjustments to the 2025 season, but we haven’t determined that yet.”

A source familiar with the conversations said that no one at that time was pushing for a 14-team bracket, and that there had been no in-depth discussion about the seeding process, but discussions had taken place on the importance of having the four highest teams. ranked conference champions get first-round byes.

Ultimately, the 11 presidents and chancellors who make up the CFP board will vote on any changes, and some university leaders have said they like to reward conference champions with byes because of the emphasis on the conference title games.

Mississippi State President and Board Chairman Mark Keenum said they didn’t talk about “what ifs” but charged the commissioners with producing a plan for the future governance and the format for 2026 and beyond.

Starting in 2026, any changes will no longer require unanimous approval, and the Big Ten and SEC will have most control over the format — power that was granted during the last CFP contract negotiation. The commissioners will meet again in person at their annual April meeting in Las Colinas, Texas, and the presidents and chancellors will have a video conference or phone call on May 6.

“We are extremely happy with where we are right now,” Keenum said. “We are looking to the new contract, which is already in place with ESPN, our media provider, for the next six years until 2032. We need to make this transition from the current structure that we are in to the new structure that we will have.

After Sunday’s meeting, sources continued to express skepticism that unanimous agreement would be reached to make meaningful changes for the 2025 season, but further review will continue in the following months.

“The commissioners and our Notre Dame athletic director will look at everything at every level,” Clark said. “We’re going to prepare them so they can really get a deep look at the playoffs once this championship game is over…and then look back and figure out what we need.”