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2w ago

Bret Bielema Says 16-Team Playoff Hinges on Uniform Nine-Game Conference Slates

The SEC's choice to remain at eight conference games is holding back the CFP committee's progress toward a December decision.

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Overview

  • Illinois coach Bret Bielema supports expanding the College Football Playoff to 16 teams only if all major conferences, including the SEC, play nine league games per season.
  • The Big Ten currently runs a nine-game conference schedule while SEC coaches voted unanimously to stick with eight games and forgo a Big Ten challenge.
  • Bielema argues the expanded field should feature the 16 best teams based on merit rather than guaranteed conference qualifiers.
  • He has proposed an SEC–Big Ten nonconference challenge to generate additional head-to-head matchups and aid the selection committee's evaluations.
  • The College Football Playoff committee and 10 FBS commissioners are meeting this week in Asheville to finalize the 2026 format before the December 1 deadline.