CFP Rankings Show How Complicated Prize Money Shift Could Play Out

This season’s debut College Football Playoff rankings provide a concrete example of how the CFP’s intricate new revenue distribution structure could play out once the final postseason field is set next month.

The first projected 12-team bracket has two Big Ten teams (Ohio State and Indiana) and two SEC teams (Texas A&M and Alabama) occupying the top four seeds, which each come with a first-round bye and a guaranteed $8 million payday for each school’s respective conference. Each team that qualifies for the CFP earns $4 million for its conference, and another $4 million for advancing to the quarterfinals, whether that comes via a first-round victory or bye.

What’s new this year is the CFP’s move to straight seeding, after ditching last year’s format that gave the top four seeds—and their extra cash—to the four highest-ranked conference champions. However, where it gets complicated is that the four highest-ranked conference champions will still earn a guaranteed $8 million for their respective leagues even if they lose their first-round matchup.

The third- and fourth-highest ranked league leaders are No. 7 BYU and No. 14 Virginia (which currently occupies the No. 11 seed). In this projected bracket, the Big 12 and ACC would be guaranteed at least $8 million in revenue distribution from the CFP’s performance bonuses, even if BYU and Virginia lost their first-round games. 

Teams that advance to the semifinals and national championship game earn another $6 million for their conference in each round. There is at least $116 million in performance-based CFP revenue distribution up for grabs overall, and potentially more if the above scenarios were to play out.

Next year, the CFP is planning to change its revenue distribution model to a less performance-based model. That could coincide with further expansion, although that is still under consideration.

Conference Battles

After the Big Ten topped the SEC with four bids in the debut 12-team CFP a year ago, the tables have turned, at least in this initial bracket projection:

• SEC: 4
• Big Ten: 3
• Big 12: 2
• ACC: 1
• AAC: 1
• Independent: 1 (Notre Dame)

The SEC has six teams ranked inside the top 12, but No. 11 Texas and No. 12 Oklahoma are the first two teams left out of the CFP under current projections.