The College Football Playoff (CFP) ushers a bold era with the debut of its 5-7 format in an expanded 12-team framework, set to kick off in the forthcoming season.
This innovative structure ensures that the top five conference champions are granted automatic bids. The next seven highest-ranked teams are then given at-large spots.
Originally, the CFP was set to use a 6–6 structure, granting six conference champions a guaranteed spot.
This plan’s motivation was to open the gates for each Power 5 conference champion and, at the same time, ensure at least one Group of 5 conference champion took part.
The goal was to bolster equality within the competing teams. However, due to recent developments, this adapted 5–7 format is better attuned to the current situation.
After the unexpected disintegration of the Pac-12, there will now be only four dominant power conferences.
For the remaining schools in the former Pac-12 sphere, Washington State and Oregon State, obtaining a spot in the CFP will require attaining an at-large bid.
The College Football Playoff has finalized a new 5–7 format for the expanded 12-team format, which will begin this upcoming season.
• 5 top-ranked conf. champions, auto bids
• 7 next top-ranked teams, at-large spotshttps://t.co/SDKr6r7Fn1 pic.twitter.com/aN5TB9b9sa— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 20, 2024
They’ve pledged to a football scheduling partnership playing games against Mountain West schools, but their formal membership in the conference hasn’t been acknowledged yet. This means participation in the Mountain West championship game is off the table.
Mark Keenum, Mississippi State’s president and head of the CFP Board of Managers, described this transformation as a “logical adjustment.”
“This is a very logical adjustment for the College Football Playoff based on the evolution of our conference structures since the board first adopted this new format in September 2022,” said Dr. Mark Keenum, President of Mississippi State University and Chair of the College Football Playoff Board of Managers.
“I know this change will also be well received by student-athletes, coaches and fans. We all will be pleased to see this new format come to life on the field this postseason.”
The CFP has some administrative issues still in the pipeline: revenue distribution and a media rights contract are among the unfinished business. A substantial media deal has been rumored.
The Athletic recently disclosed that ESPN and the CFP were on the brink of agreeing to a six-year, $7.8 billion extension to their current deal.
However, Front Office Sports sources expressed surprise at this news, with the site ultimately unable to verify it.
In contrast, Yahoo Sports unveiled an internal memo from the MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher indicating that no formal deal had been presented for a CFP vote as of yet.
The Football Playoff management plans to conduct meetings throughout Tuesday and Wednesday to make further discussions and decisions on pending issues.
