Ohio State’s Ryan Day Pushes for Big Ten Priority in CFP Format

The disconnect about the future of the College Football Playoff among the sport’s leaders continues to grow by the day.

While the CFP is moving to a straight-seeding format this coming season, a decision on further expansion in 2026 and a new structure for a potential 16-team field appears likely to bleed into this fall.

The biggest hurdle for CFP leaders to clear on the road to expansion is how teams will qualify for the Playoff. The Big 12 supports a 5+11 model that would see the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next 11 highest-ranked teams make a 16-team Playoff. 

There is also discussion about giving the Big Ten and SEC more guaranteed CFP spots. Ohio State coach Ryan Day told ESPN on Wednesday that the Big Ten deserves “at least four automatic qualifiers.” That would seem to fall in line with suggested models that give the Big Ten and SEC four CFP bids apiece, while potentially giving the ACC and Big 12 only two each, with at-large spots filling out the rest.

However, Day doesn’t appear ready to give the SEC the same privilege, even as the leagues discuss a scheduling partnership, because they play one less conference game per season. “If you don’t have those automatic qualifiers, you’re less likely to play a game like we’re playing this year against Texas, because it just won’t make sense,” he said. “If we do, then you’re more likely to do that, because we play nine conference games in the Big Ten. The SEC doesn’t. So it’s not equal.”

Big Decisions

Whenever the CFP decides on its format for 2026 and beyond, it will be the Big Ten and SEC that have the largest say. But will they only be looking out for themselves, or college football at large?

“Yes, they have the pen. But with that pen comes responsibility to do the right thing,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark told Front Office Sports last month. “It’s not written anywhere in the Memorandum of Understanding that they can take the CFP and create a format or make a decision that only benefits their two conferences.”

The CFP has a Dec. 1 deadline to notify its media-rights holder, ESPN, of any expansion or changes for the 2026 season.