CFP Holds Off On Major Changes Until Realignment Is Settled

Wednesday’s gathering of College Football Playoff leaders in Dallas came and went without a decision on any major format changes — at least for now.

CFP executive director Bill Hancock called the meeting productive but claimed the need to “wait until the dust settles” on conference realignment before altering specific details of the expanded, 12-team playoff that begins next year.

Many around college sports are anticipating that instead of the CFP including the six highest-ranked conference champions and the six other highest-ranked teams each season — as originally planned — the postseason could ultimately include the five highest-ranked conference winners and seven at-large bids.

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff was in attendance despite the conference’s murky future beyond this season with just four member schools — and potentially fewer next year. Kliavkoff is a member of the CFP group through June 30, 2024.

Hancock called the meeting “cordial,” and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said that “everyone was friendly.”

Clock Is Ticking

The ACC had reportedly wanted to have a final decision on expansion by the start of Week 1, which begins on Thursday with 11 games scheduled across the country.

Pac-12 remnants Stanford and California, along with current AAC member Southern Methodist University, have reportedly been inching closer to joining the ACC, while Oregon State and Washington State are waiting on their West Coast counterparts before deciding the conference affiliation for 2024.