• Loading stock data...
Friday, March 13, 2026

CFP Meetings End With No Major Changes to 12-Team Playoff—for Now

The College Football Playoff is exploring potential format changes for next season, as well as 2026 and beyond. However, nothing has been agreed to yet.

Jan 21, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark speaks during the CFP National Championship Host Committee handoff press conference at The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Savannah Ballroom.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The College Football Playoff’s annual spring meetings concluded without any major decisions about changing the format of the expanded, 12-team postseason bracket.

The CFP management committee—made up of FBS conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua—met in Dallas Tuesday afternoon through Thursday morning to discuss standard logistical and financial operations for the upcoming season, as well as ideas about how the Playoff could further evolve.

However, no big changes were agreed to this week, CFP executive director Rich Clark told reporters in Dallas on Thursday afternoon.

One idea that has seemingly had momentum this offseason is shifting to straight seeding, as opposed to the inaugural bracket, which gave the top four seeds (that come with first-round byes) to the highest-ranked conference champions. This past season, No. 9 Boise State received the third seed, and No. 12 Arizona State got the fourth seed.

That change and any other could still be made ahead of the 2025 season, as the CFP leaders are set to meet again in June. 

Ahead of this week’s meeting, a source told Front Office Sports that they expected things to remain status quo this year, before big changes come in 2026, since the CFP format for that season and beyond has not yet been set.

Other potential format changes in future years include more automatic qualifiers for the Big Ten and SEC, expanding to 14 or 16 teams, and more on-campus home games.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oct 19, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NBC Sports commentator Tony Dungy after the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Why Ex-NFL Coaches Are No Longer Surefire Media Stars

Tony Dungy’s departure from NBC is the latest example of an emerging trend.

Seahawks GM: State’s Millionaire Tax Will ‘Sting’ Player Recruitment

The Super Bowl-winning GM foresees a competitive disadvantage forthcoming.
Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. (27) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

James Pearce Jr. Charged With 3 Felonies in Domestic Dispute

WNBA forward Rickea Jackson was granted an initial protection order against Pearce.
Jul 30, 2022; Irvine, CA, USA; A general view of the official NFL balls on the field during Los Angeles Rams training camp at University of California Irvine.

Why the NFL’s 2026 Schedule Could Look Very Different

The upcoming slate will feature even more standalone games.

Featured Today

Alex Eala Has Become One of the Biggest Draws in Tennis

Eala will face Coco Gauff in the third round at Indian Wells.
Jun 9, 2021; Paris, France; The racket of Coco Gauff (USA) after she smashed it during her match against Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) on day 11 of the French Open at Stade Roland Garros
March 6, 2026

The ‘Rage Room’ Is the Hottest Place in Tennis

The idea came from a player podcast.
March 5, 2026

Mark DeRosa Is Still Baseball’s Swiss Army Knife

DeRosa is the sport’s utility player both on the field and off.
Nicole Silveira
March 3, 2026

The Tattoo Marking Membership in the Most Exclusive Club in Sports

For athletes, the Olympic rings tattoo is “about everything it took.”

Big 12 Ditches LED Court Mid-Tourney After Player Concerns

Widespread player complaints helped lead to the mid-tournament switch.
Mar 10, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Ben Hammond (3) with the ball as Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Sebastian Akins (10) defends in the second half at Spectrum Center.
March 12, 2026

Bubble Teams Continue to Lose, While Tournament Expansion Looms

The NCAA has discussed expanding the tournament to 72 or 76 teams.
Miami RedHawks guard Peter Suder (5) and guard Luke Skaljac (3) leave the floor as UMass Minutemen forward Leonardo Bettiol (3) celebrates a win after the final buzzer of the second half of Mid-American Conference Tournament first round game between the Miami RedHawks and the UMass Minutemen at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Top-seeded Miami was eliminated from the tournament with an 87-82 loss to the Minutemen.
March 12, 2026

Miami (Ohio) Debate Intensifies After RedHawks’ First Loss

The previously undefeated RedHawks lost to UMass in the MAC tournament.
Sponsored

Paul Rabil: Why Owning a Team Is a 100x Bet

Paul Rabil shares how he left an established league to build PLL.
Mar 7, 2026; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) shoots over North Carolina Tar Heels forward Zayden High (1) during the second half at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Duke Blue Devils won 76-61.
March 11, 2026

College Hoops Regular Season Finishes With Record Viewership

CBS had the highest viewership of any network.
St. John's Zuby Ejiofor
March 11, 2026

Why Rev-Share Era Hasn’t Been a Boon for Basketball-Only Schools

Power conference men’s basketball rosters aren’t restricted to the rev-share cap.
Mar 7, 2026; Ames, Iowa, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils guard Trevor Best (12) is defended by Iowa State Cyclones guard Jamarion Batemon (1) and forward Dominykas Pleta (21) during the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum.
March 10, 2026

College Sports Commission Says NIL Go System Under Strain

“The NIL market in college athletics is not a normal organic market.”
March 9, 2026

Sun Belt’s Stepladder Format Is Producing Some March Chaos

The Sun Belt conference school has a chance at history Monday night.