• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

CFP Format Questions Loom Over Spring Meetings

Leaders of the College Football Playoff are gathering just outside Dallas this week for annual spring meetings, with major questions about the future makeup of the sport’s postseason unanswered.

Dec 30, 2022; Glendale AZ, USA; The College Football Playoff logo on the field at State Farm Stadium, the site of the 2022 CFP Semifinal between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Michigan Wolverines and Super Bowl 57 (LVII).
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Leaders of the College Football Playoff are gathering just outside Dallas this week for annual spring meetings, with major questions about the future makeup of the sport’s postseason unanswered.

Beginning Tuesday, the CFP management committee—made up of FBS conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua—will meet through Thursday morning to discuss not only standard logistical and financial operations for the upcoming season but also ideas about how the expanded, 12-team Playoff could further evolve.

However, one CFP source told Front Office Sports they did not expect any major format or seeding changes to be approved this week.

What’s on the Table

The format of the 2026 CFP and beyond is still undetermined, but unless the committee unanimously approves changes this spring or summer, the 2025 Playoff will be identical to last year’s: First-round byes for the four highest-ranked conference champions, another automatic spot—but not a bye week—for the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion, and the next seven highest-ranked teams at the end of the season.

Potential changes that could eventually be made include:

  • More automatic qualifiers for the Big Ten and SEC
  • A shift to straight seeding to determine first-round byes
  • Expanding to 14 or 16 teams
  • More on-campus home games

All of those ideas, and more, are expected to be discussed this week, even if there is no vote to implement any alterations.  

Waiting Game

With the 2026 format still needed to be approved, the committee may prefer to wait to make changes to things like seeding, the source said, instead of incrementally rolling out changes. Beginning in 2026, the Big Ten and SEC will hold the majority of decision-making power and receive a majority of revenue from the CFP. 

The CFP’s leaders will meet again in June and September, when more discussions—and potential votes—on changes are expected.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

A helmt is seen during the Texas Tech football team's spring game, Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

CFB’s Revenue-Sharing Era Muddles Future of NIL, Adds PE Questions

Athletic departments can pay college athletes a combined $20.5 million this year.
exclusive

CBS, NFL Host James Brown Discussing Contract Extension

The 74-year-old Brown has hosted a record 10 Super Bowl pregame shows.
Jul 3, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Jannik Sinner (ITA) returns a shot during his match against Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) on day seven at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Wimbledon’s Expansion Battle Looms Over Star-Studded Quarterfinals

The expansion’s loudest opposition is Save Wimbledon Park.
Nov 16, 2024; New York, NY, USA; President-elect Donald Trump speaks with Dana White (left) during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.

UFC Confirms Talks to Bring Fight to White House Grounds

Discussions are underway to bring a UFC event to the White House grounds.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
Louis, Missouri, UNITED STATES; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Nicholas DeGraves (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Boston University Terriers during the third period of the Frozen Four college ice hockey national semifinals at Enterprise Center

Gavin McKenna’s Penn State Commitment Cements College Hockey Supremacy

Gavin McKenna’s Penn State decision signals hockey’s rising stars now prefer NCAA.
July 6, 2025

Revenue-Sharing Chaos Begins as Texas Tech Secures Five-Star OT

The Red Raiders spent more than $10 million in the winter transfer portal.
Nov 30, 2024; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs the ball against West Virginia Mountaineers defensive back Anthony Wilson Jr. (12) in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field.
July 7, 2025

Felix Ojo’s Agent Says Texas Tech Offered $5.1M At Start of Rev-Share..

Texas Tech secured Ojo with a seven-figure NIL commitment.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
July 3, 2025

Everything You Need to Know About EA’s Return to College Basketball Video..

There hasn’t been a college basketball game in more than 15 years.
Ohio State
July 1, 2025

Collectives Funnel $20 Million to College Athletes on Last Day Before Revenue..

Collectives frontloaded payments just before the revenue sharing era begins July 1.
July 1, 2025

Big Ten Commish Still Pushes for 4 Auto CFP Bids in 16-Team..

The conference wants four guaranteed spots in the Playoff.
June 30, 2025

College Sports Revenue-Sharing Underway As More Changes Loom

July 1 marks the first day schools can directly pay players.