• Loading stock data...
Saturday, March 21, 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

Dec 13, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; President Donald J Trump cross the field at half time of the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Army West Point Black Knights at M&T Bank Stadium.

Trump Signs Executive Order to ‘Preserve’ Army–Navy Game

The order seeks to guarantee an exclusive television window for the game.
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Egon Durban walks on the sideline with Tom Brady before the CFP National Championship college football game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

NFL Owners To Vote on Raiders Succession Plan

The plan creates a path for the Raiders to leave the Davis family.
Sports commentator watches games on NFL Red Zone

NFL Sunday Ticket Exit from DirecTV Forces U.S. Bars to Adapt

DirecTV will no longer distribute the out-of-market package.
Jan 18, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel reacts to call by the referees in the third quarter against the Houston Texans in an AFC Divisional Round game at Gillette Stadium.

NFL Eyes Replacements If League Doesn’t Reach Referee CBA Deal

The league is amassing a list of alternates as labor negotiations continue.

Featured Today

AI College Recruiting Reels Aren’t Fooling Scouts

College coaches and recruiters are way ahead of cheating athletes.
March 7, 2026

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.
Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; High Point Panthers forward Owen Aquino (8) blocks the shot of Wisconsin Badgers guard Nick Boyd (2) during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center

Mid-Majors Use March Madness to Lobby for High-Major Matchups

Underdog programs want—and need—more games against high-major teams.
Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Tramon Mark (12) blocks BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) in the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images
March 20, 2026

AJ Dybantsa, BYU Are Latest Non-Blueblood Pairing To Exit Early

Texas upset BYU on Thursday night, ending A.J. Dybantsa’s freshman season.
Vanderbilt Commodores forward Tyler Nickel (5) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during a first-round game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament between McNeese and Vanderbilt at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Thursday, March 19, 2026.
March 20, 2026

Not Just Football: Vanderbilt Sports Surge Hits March Madness

The men’s basketball team earned its first NCAA tournament win since 2012.
Sponsored

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

Paul Rabil shares how he left an established league to build PLL.
Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; High Point Panthers forward Owen Aquino (8) defends abasing Wisconsin Badgers forward Nolan Winter (31) during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center.
March 20, 2026

A ‘Life Skills University’ Is Upending March Madness

High Point upset Wisconsin to win its first March Madness game.
Mar 19, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis instructs his team against the VCU Rams in the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
March 20, 2026

Buyout for Tar Heels’ Davis Would Cost UNC $5.3M

Davis has been the coach of UNC since 2021.
Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; High Point Panthers guard Chase Johnston (99) reacts after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center
March 19, 2026

March Madness Upsets Alive and Well Despite New ‘Free Agency’ Era

Mid-major programs VCU and High Point pulled off major March Madness wins.
exclusive
March 19, 2026

Texas A&M Athlete Targeted in First NIL Investigations, Emails Show

A Texas A&M spokesperson said in a statement the inquiry has been resolved.