Overview
- CFP executive director Rich Clark confirmed the 2026 playoff will remain a 12‑team bracket after months of talks failed to produce consensus.
- The SEC is pushing a 16‑team field with five automatic qualifiers and 11 at‑large bids, while the Big Ten has floated expansion to as many as 24 teams.
- New access rules guarantee bids for ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC champions, add the highest‑ranked Group of 6 champion, and include Notre Dame if it finishes in the top 12.
- The CFP replaced performance‑based bonuses with fixed revenue shares, allocating roughly 29% each to the Big Ten and SEC, smaller shares to the ACC and Big 12, and a collective portion to the Group of 6.
- The SEC will move to a nine‑game conference schedule in 2026 and will require its teams to play at least one Power Four or Notre Dame opponent annually.