• Loading stock data...
Friday, August 29, 2025
Front Office Sports Honors winners are here! View the 2025 winners

As 2025 CFB Season Nears, 2026 Playoff Format Still a Mystery

College Football Playoff leaders are scheduled to meet only one more time before the start of the regular season. Will they agree on a format for 2026 and beyond?

Jan 19, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; The College Football Playoff National Championship trophy at a press conference at The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Savannah Ballroom.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The College Football Playoff is increasingly at risk of entering the 2025 season without a clear direction on its format beyond this year.

While CFP leaders have agreed to move to a straight-seeding structure this season, they remain unable to reach an agreement on what the makeup of the Playoff will be in 2026 and beyond, when a media-rights extension with ESPN kicks in.

There is a Dec. 1 deadline for the CFP to notify ESPN of any format changes for 2026, including expansion. While most stakeholders within the Power 4 appear comfortable growing the bracket from 12 to 16 teams, there is not yet a consensus on how teams would qualify.

June 18 is the last scheduled meeting of the CFP management committee—made up of FBS conference commissioners and Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua—before games begin in late August. If a decision is not made by then, CFP leaders will have to call a special session later in the summer to avoid bleeding their format debate into the season. Week Zero of the new season kicks off Aug. 23.

What’s on the Table?

During recent spring meetings for the Power 4 conferences, some momentum was built around a 5+11 model that would see the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next 11 highest-ranked teams make a 16-team Playoff.

However, a divide remains around the Power 4 not having alignment on regular-season scheduling. Big Ten and Big 12 teams each play nine conference games per season, while the SEC and ACC play eight.

In 2024, the 12 CFP teams paid $27 million to the Group of 5 and FCS schools for their non-conference schedules.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Fox, YouTube TV Reach Deal, Avoiding CFB Blackout

Saturday’s Texas-Ohio State college football game will be fully distributed

Micah Parsons Traded to Packers, Set to Sign Record 4-Year, $188M Deal

The Cowboys reportedly offered Parsons $40.5 million per year in March.
Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders during the spring game at Folsom Field.

Coach Prime Enters Year 3 at Colorado With New Challenges

The Buffaloes have sold out their season tickets yet again.

As CFB Programs Add Corporate Field Logos, Are Jersey Patches Next?

Texas is adding a sponsor’s logo to its football field this season.

Featured Today

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
August 23, 2025

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.
Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks with the media during the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
August 22, 2025

‘Not Ready to Jump In’: Power 4 Commissioners Aren’t Sold on PE

Top leaders in college sports have yet to see a satisfactory proposal.

Fox, YouTube TV Avoid Blackout With Short-Term Deal

The upcoming Texas–Ohio State clash will remain available to subscribers.
Oregon State Beavers quarterback Gevani McCoy (4) scrambles out of the pocket during an NCAA football game against UNLV at Reser Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Corvallis, Ore.
August 27, 2025

Pac-12 Strikes New Football, Basketball Deal With The CW

The latest step in its resurrection after being picked apart in 2023.
August 27, 2025

College Football Players Projected to Earn $1.9B This Year, Nearly Double 2024

The spike comes in the first season of revenue-sharing.
Sponsored

Gareth Bale on MLS vs EPL, Retirement & Buying Cardiff City

Gareth Bale shares his post-soccer business playbook.
Oct 17, 2015; Evanston, IL, USA; A general view of the Northwestern Wildcats logo at midfield before the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Ryan Field.
August 25, 2025

Northwestern AD Singles Out Volleyball As Sport to Invest In

Northwestern athletic director Mark Jackson spoke to Front Office Sports.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) is tackled by Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Payton Page (55) during the second half of the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
August 25, 2025

As College Football Season Kicks Off, NIL Deal Approval Process Still Lags

Many deals are stuck in “purgatory,” one power conference collective operator says.
August 25, 2025

$12.5M Freshman Bryce Underwood Named Michigan’s Starting QB

The Wolverines paid big money to land the highly touted recruit.
McDonald's All-American
August 22, 2025

NCAA Considers Making High School Athletes Register NIL Deals

The rule would likely be tested in court if adopted.