Overview

• The ACC and Big 12 are facing a critical decision in the proposed 14-team College Football Playoff (CFP) model, which could relegate them to a lesser status compared to the Big Ten and SEC.
• The proposed model offers the ACC and Big 12 two guaranteed CFP spots each, potentially at the expense of higher-ranked Big Ten or SEC teams, but also solidifies a Power-2/Middle-2 disparity.
• CFP expansion discussions have been influenced by conference realignment and the dominance of the Big Ten and SEC, raising concerns about competitive equity and the future structure of college football.
• The Big Ten and SEC are leveraging their influence to secure more automatic CFP bids and a larger share of playoff revenue, marginalizing other conferences in the process.
• The fate of the CFP and college football's power dynamics hinges on the upcoming decisions by the ACC and Big 12, amid threats of further consolidation by the Big Ten and SEC.