The College Football Playoff is gearing up for a notable shift next season, moving to a clearer and more straightforward system for filling its brackets. In a unanimous decision reached by ten conference commissioners along with Notre Dame’s athletic director, the committee has opted to align the playoff selections strictly based on team rankings, trimming down the previous model that attempted to reward conference champions through a more complex format.
Gone are the guarantees of an opening bye week for the top four conference champions. Instead, this advantage will now be reserved solely for the four highest-ranked teams, irrespective of conference titles. This modification comes on the heels of criticisms faced after last year’s bracket saw the likes of Big 12 champion Arizona State and Mountain West champion Boise State receiving byes despite their relatively low rankings of 12th and 9th, respectively, by the playoff selection committee. Such discrepancies rendered the selection rankings and the seeding process somewhat disjointed, which in certain instances, such as the quarterfinal clash between top-ranked Oregon and Ohio State—who ultimately claimed the national title—created earlier matchups than what would be ideal.
Rich Clark, the executive director of the College Football Playoff, highlighted that after careful evaluation of the playoff’s inaugural season featuring 12 teams, the committee felt compelled to alter the structure for the benefit of the competition. “After evaluating the first year of the 12-team Playoff, the CFP Management Committee felt it was in the best interest of the game to make this adjustment,” Clark remarked.
The new system continues to assure spots for the five highest-ranked conference champions, ensuring that the dynamic of the playoff remains competitive. It’s evident that scenarios could echo last season’s peculiarities, particularly regarding how teams are seeded. For instance, CFP No. 16 Clemson, despite finishing 12th in the bracket following its Atlantic Coast Conference victory, could potentially overshadow an113th-ranked team’s bid for playoff inclusion.
From a financial perspective, the new format maintains monetary incentives for the highest-ranked conference champions, with the top four receiving $8 million each. This sum breaks down to $4 million for participating in the playoff and another $4 million for advancing to the quarterfinals. Clark noted this decision reflects a commitment to the conference champions to ensure they receive financial rewards commensurate with what would have been under the previous system.
Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey was among those advocating for the transition to this new structure in the playoff’s second year. While he aimed to promote this change, he acknowledged the necessity of a unanimous vote among conference leaders to push it through. Meanwhile, smaller conferences might look to capitalize on these seeding dynamics when it comes time for the next negotiations, which could contemplate expanding the playoff to include 14 teams and guarantee bids for specific leagues. The SEC and Big Ten are poised to be at the forefront of these discussions.
As we look ahead, this will mark the third different playoff system for college football in just three years. Following a decade of the four-team playoff, the 12-team format made its debut last season. It’s noteworthy that the shift in seeding was first reported by ESPN, the network that inked a lucrative deal valued at $7.8 billion to broadcast the expanded playoff over the next six years.
The new playoff season kicks off on December 19 at the campuses of teams ranked 5 through 8, with subsequent games held at neutral venues, culminating in the title game on January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium outside Miami.
Reflecting on last season, had this straightforward seeding format been applied, we could have witnessed some intriguing first-round matchups. For instance, No. 12 Clemson would have faced No. 5 Notre Dame. Interestingly, while the Tigers would have entered despite their 16th-ranked status, Notre Dame could have benefited significantly from this new structure, possibly securing a bye. Meanwhile, No. 11 Arizona State would have taken on No. 6 Ohio State, while No. 10 SMU faced No. 7 Tennessee. Ultimately, the odd exclusion of Alabama, which ranked 11th in last year’s CFP, highlights the whimsical nature of playoff seeding when it intersects with conference results. In another matchup, No. 9 Boise State could have squared off against No. 8 Indiana, offering yet another tantalizing prospect for fans.
As we prepare for the next chapter of college football’s playoff saga, there’s plenty to dissect and anticipate, and it’s shaping up to be a thrilling ride as teams vie for their shot at glory.
