The world of college football is buzzing with anticipation as the College Football Playoff (CFP) committee met in Atlanta on Sunday to discuss potential changes to the 12-team playoff format set to debut in the 2025 season. While no major decisions were finalized, CFP executive director Rich Clark left the door open for possible “tweaks” to the structure, setting the stage for a fascinating period of evaluation and adjustment in the coming months.
A Meeting of Minds
Sunday’s gathering brought together the FBS commissioners and the presidents and chancellors who control the playoff for the first in-person meeting since the historic expansion to 12 teams was announced. The Hilton Signia in Atlanta played host to a day of critical conversations, as the key stakeholders began the process of reviewing the new format and considering potential modifications.
There’s probably some things that could happen in short order that might be tweaks to the 2025 season, but we haven’t determined that yet.
– Rich Clark, CFP executive director
Possible Changes on the Table
While the specifics remain undecided, several potential adjustments to the 12-team format were reportedly discussed:
- Bracket Size: Sources indicated there was little push for expanding to a 14-team field at this stage.
- Seeding Process: No in-depth discussion yet, but the concept of awarding first-round byes to the top four conference champions was met with some support from university leaders.
- Conference Championship Emphasis: Rewarding conference champions with byes could add even greater importance to those title games.
A Collaborative Approach
Mississippi State president Mark Keenum, chair of the CFP’s Board of Managers, stressed that the focus was not on hypotheticals but on tasking the commissioners with developing a concrete plan for the future governance and format of the playoff from 2026 onward. With the current ESPN media contract running through 2032, a smooth transition to the new structure is a top priority.
We’re extremely happy with where we are now. We’re looking towards the new contract, which is already in place with ESPN, our media provider, for the next six years through 2032. We’ve got to make that transition from the current structure that we’re in, to the new structure we’ll have.
– Mark Keenum, Mississippi State president
The Road Ahead
As the CFP prepares for its next in-person commissioners meeting in April, followed by a Board of Managers videoconference in May, the college football world eagerly awaits further developments. While unanimous agreement on significant changes for 2025 appears unlikely, the thorough review process now underway holds the promise of refining and optimizing the expanded playoff structure.
For fans, coaches, and players alike, the coming months will provide valuable insight into the future shape of the College Football Playoff. As the sport stands on the cusp of a new era, the decisions made in the wake of this historic meeting in Atlanta will help chart the course for years to come. The only certainty? The passion and excitement surrounding college football show no signs of abating.
