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College Football Playoff’s 16-Team Expansion Splits Power Conferences on Bid Allocation, Scheduling

Conference leaders dispute automatic bid allocations, SEC scheduling changes, SOS clarity in the run-up to a June 18 decision on a 16-team playoff.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey talks with the media during SEC Media Days at Grand Bohemian Hotel on Oct. 16, 2024.
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Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin waves to fans after his team's defeat of Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium in 2022.

Overview

  • SEC coaches favor a 5+11 model — five automatic bids for conference champions plus 11 at-large spots — but SEC athletic directors insist on adding a ninth league game before endorsing any playoff format.
  • Big Ten athletic directors back a 4+4+2+2+1 structure with four auto bids each for the SEC and Big Ten and warn they won’t support 5+11 if the SEC remains at eight conference games.
  • Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and multiple ACC sources publicly endorse the 5+11 proposal as fair and performance-based, heightening pressure on Power 4 conferences.
  • SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and other leaders are pressing the CFP selection committee for clearer strength-of-schedule criteria to guide at-large bid decisions.
  • CFP management committee members and FBS commissioners will meet in Asheville on June 18 to finalize the expanded format, with a December 1, 2025 deadline for the 16-team playoff structure.