Saturday, May 9, 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.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL Referee Carl Cheffers signals a penalty during the Buffalo Bills game against the Cincinnati Bengals at home in Orchard Park on Jan. 22.

NFL and Refs Ratify New 7-Year CBA

The seven-year deal eliminates the need for replacement officials.
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell holds a Terrible Towel during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.

All Eyes on Networks, Streamers as NFL Readies Schedule Release

The highly anticipated slate will drop on Thursday.

Ex-Ohio University Football Coach Sues School Over Firing

Smith admitted to having a romantic relationship with an undergraduate.
exclusive

What Illinois’s $20M Jumbotron Says About the Future of CFB Stadiums

Illinois installed the largest video display in college football in January.

Featured Today

Matt Palumb

Pro Lacrosse’s Top Ref Is As Famous As the Players

The last celebrity referee is in the Premier Lacrosse League.
May 2, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta United midfielder Saba Lobjanidze (11) reacts to his goal against the CF Montréal in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit
May 7, 2026

How Atlanta Unexpectedly Became the Epicenter of U.S. Soccer

U.S. Soccer is opening a new national HQ in Georgia.
Tottenham Hotspur
May 6, 2026

Tottenham Hotspur Is Facing a Billion-Dollar Disaster

A seemingly improbable drop to England’s second tier is a tangible possibility.
Cricket - Indian Premier League - IPL - Final - Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Punjab Kings - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India - June 4, 2025 Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Rajat Patidar lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Indian Premier League
May 5, 2026

How Private Equity Fell in Love With Indian Cricket

India’s U.S.-style cricket league has become a private-equity playground.
Apr 6, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) goes up for a rebound against Connecticut Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) and Connecticut Huskies forward Tarris Reed Jr. (5) in the first half during the national championship of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Expanded Basketball Tournaments Will Yield NCAA $50M a Year

The deal guarantees the NCAA will be able to cover additional operating expenses.
May 7, 2026

Most Big 12 Schools Turning Down $30M RedBird Credit Line

11 schools say they’re declining the money. They have a one-year window.
May 7, 2026

Tournament Darling LIU Had 1,000 Ineligible Athletes, NCAA Says

LIU merged its Brooklyn and Long Island campuses in 2019. 
Sponsored

What Is It Like to Run the Knicks?

Dave Checketts on his time running the Knicks & Jazz, Jordan war stories, and his investment strategy across major sports leagues.
May 6, 2026

Kentucky Signs Former Top 10 WNBA Draft Pick

NBA draft pick James Nnaji also returned to college.
May 6, 2026

Will Wade Could Follow the Illinois Blueprint at LSU

LSU re-hired Wade in March after firing him in 2022. 
Feb 6, 2026; Fayetteville, AR, USA; The Arkansas Razorbacks logo is displayed behind home plate during the Arkansas Razorbacks scrimmage at Baum-Walker Stadium
May 6, 2026

Arkansas Men’s Tennis Coach: ‘Disbelief’ After Team Axed

Jay Udwadia spoke with FOS about the university’s decision to axe tennis.
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; American businessman and television personality Mark Cuban before the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
exclusive
May 5, 2026

Mark Cuban Says He Paid for Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza Deal

Cuban’s first donation to Indiana football was well spent.