Overview
- Teams granted opening-round byes are 1–7 in quarterfinals over two seasons, sharpening calls to scrap byes in any new format.
- A 16-team bracket is under serious discussion as a fix, though calendar congestion, bowl tie-ins and TV logistics remain obstacles.
- This season’s semifinals feature No. 1 Indiana, No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 Mississippi and No. 10 Miami after multiple quarterfinal upsets.
- Conference narratives shifted as the Big Ten posted a strong postseason and the Big 12 remained winless in the expanded CFP era.
- Commentary highlights the money at stake, citing ESPN’s six-year, $7.8 billion deal and escalating team and coaching payouts as forces favoring further expansion.