The dust has barely settled on the inaugural season of the 12-team College Football Playoff, but behind closed doors, the powers that be are already contemplating changes to enhance the format moving forward. As the CFP wraps up its first run with an expanded field, several key topics have emerged as points of discussion among the FBS commissioners and other influential figures who shape the playoff.
Seeding Methodology Under Scrutiny
One of the most prominent issues on the docket is the seeding process. In the current 12-team model, the top four seeds are reserved for the highest-ranked conference champions, a provision that resulted in No. 12 Arizona State and No. 9 Boise State earning first-round byes this season. This has led to calls for the byes to be awarded purely based on the selection committee’s rankings, regardless of conference champion status.
The seeding has to be based on the ranking—whatever metrics, whatever evaluation the committee sees in those teams, they have to rank and seed them accordingly. That’s the only fair way to do it.
Joe Castiglione, Oklahoma Athletic Director
However, altering the seeding protocol is a complex undertaking that would require unanimous agreement from all FBS conferences and Notre Dame. Reaching consensus on such a contentious matter is far from guaranteed, especially with the Group of 5 conferences unlikely to support any change that could diminish their access to the top seeds.
Balancing Bowls and Playoff Expansion
The role of bowl games in the evolving CFP ecosystem is another topic of interest. Some factions favor increasing the number of playoff contests held on campus, a model that yielded substantial buzz and enthusiasm in the first round this season. But the bowls remain determined to maintain their stake in the postseason landscape.
“We wanted to play this out and make it as good as we can possibly make it,” CFP executive director Rich Clark said, “and then make the adjustments to make it even better.”
While the New Year’s Six bowls have agreed in principle to host the quarterfinals starting in 2026, the contracts have not yet been finalized. Striking the right balance between honoring traditional bowl ties and fostering the most compelling matchups looms as a crucial challenge for the next iteration of the playoff.
Evaluating the Committee and Conference Title Games
The selection committee’s role in the 12-team era has also come under scrutiny, particularly in terms of how it assesses teams that participate in conference championship games. With both of the ACC title game participants—No. 10 SMU and No. 16 Clemson—making the playoff field this season, some commissioners are seeking clarity on whether there will be any protection or extra weight given to teams that play in their conference title contests going forward.
“I don’t want to read into that. I’d like to hear from the committee after it’s over about what some of those conversations were,” ACC commissioner Jim Phillips remarked. Transparency regarding the committee’s selection metrics and criteria has emerged as a priority.
Eyeing the Future: Playoff Expansion on the Horizon?
While the 12-team format will remain in place for the 2025 season, the groundwork is already being laid for what the CFP might look like in 2026 and beyond. Though the playoff’s current media rights deal with ESPN features accommodations for either an 11-game (12 teams) or 13-game (14 teams) format, there is a growing appetite in some circles to explore even further expansion.
- A 14-team model has gained traction as a potential option, with automatic bids being designated for the “Power Four” of the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12, along with the top Group of 5 champion.
- Some have even floated the notion of a 16-team field, though such a drastic move would likely require reconfiguring the entire playoff schedule and navigating myriad logistical hurdles.
Ultimately, the size and shape of the CFP in 2026 and beyond will hinge on the sport’s ever-evolving power dynamics. “I think any conversation about AQs is going to force us all into a conversation about expanding the playoff,” one source confided to ESPN.
As the commissioners convene to debrief on the 12-team playoff’s trial run and strategize for the future, all options appear to be on the table. The College Football Playoff has entered a fascinating new era, and the coming months will chart a course for its next phase—one that figures to be every bit as compelling and consequential as the inaugural 12-team campaign.
