• Loading stock data...
Thursday, January 8, 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

Demond Williams Walks Back Transfer Talk, to Stay at Washington

Washington threatened legal action to force him to honor his rev-share contract.
Ole Miss Head Coach Pete Golding smiles while Miami Head Coach Mario Cristobal answers a question during a CFP and Fiesta Bowl press conference at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026.

Ole Miss Survived Kiffin Coaching Chaos to Make CFP Semifinal

Multiple coaches have gone back and forth between Ole Miss and LSU.
Aug 31, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer talks with ESPN’s Taylor McGregor for a post-game interview after the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Netflix Eyeing Rising Star Taylor McGregor

The versatile reporter covers college football, MLB, and UFL for ESPN.

Featured Today

Hockey in Florida Was Once a Risk. Now It’s Thriving

The state of Florida has become a traditional—and highly lucrative—market.
Dec 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts after scoring a basket against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Crypto.com Arena
January 4, 2026

Why Pro Sports Team Valuations Will Keep Climbing in 2026

Asset scarcity and increasing media-rights deals underpin soaring valuations.
Imagn Images/Front Office Sports
January 2, 2026

FOS Crystal Ball: Predictions for the Business of Sports in 2026

Here’s what FOS journalists think could be on the horizon.
Heated Rivalry (L to R) - Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov and Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander in Episode 104 of Heated Rivalry. Cr. Sabrina Lantos © 2025
December 24, 2025

Hockey Needed Some Virality. Then Came ‘Heated Rivalry’

No one was prepared for the Canadian show’s smash success.
Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning and Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti shake hands with Gary Stokan on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, during a coaches' press conference ahead of the College Football Playoff Peach Bowl game at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Peach Bowl CEO: ‘We’ve Lost the Mission’ of College Sports

The Peach Bowl CEO is wary of private equity’s entry into college sports.
January 7, 2026

CFP Coaches Thriving—and Cashing In—As Nick Saban Disciples

Head coaches of the four remaining CFP teams had stints under Nick Saban.
Dec 13, 2025; Inglewood, CA, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (2) is forced out of bounds by Boise State Broncos defensive back Jeremiah Earby (6) after a catching a pass in the second half of the LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium.
January 7, 2026

Washington Considers Suing Former QB Demond Williams

Washington wants to hold Williams accountable for certain buyout provisions.
Sponsored

ESPN Edge Innovation Conference 2025: Inside the Technology Shaping the Future of..

At ESPN Edge Innovation Conference 2025, ESPN showcased how AI, immersive tech, and a rebuilt direct-to-consumer platform are redefining the future of sports media.
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Jaden Wilkerson (71) walks off the field after the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium.
January 7, 2026

ACC Only Power Conference Giving CFP Teams 100% of Payout

Big Ten, Big 12 share distributions equally; SEC has a hybrid model.
exclusive
January 7, 2026

Mark Cuban Increases His Indiana Football Spending for Transfer Portal

Cuban graduated from Indiana in 1981. 
Sep 13, 2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) passes in the first half against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Michigan Stadium.
January 6, 2026

Bryce Underwood to Stay at Michigan for Sophomore Season

Underwood led the Wolverines to 9–4 as a true freshman.
Nov 1, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) warms up before the game against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
January 5, 2026

Million-Dollar QBs Dominate College Football’s Transfer Portal Window

A single transfer portal window is running Jan. 2–16.