BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The College Playoff Football will have a brand new model beginning this season, the committee announced Thursday afternoon.
The CFP will move to a 12-team straight seeding model this fall with the top four teams receiving a first-round bye.
For example, the CFP used a 12-team model last season, but the top four conference champions earned seeds 1-4, regardless of where they were previously ranked. Boise State and Arizona State were the #3 and #4 seeds after winning their conferences, despite being previously ranked as #9 and #12 overall respectively at the end of the season.
If the CFP used the new model for last season, Oregon, Georgia, Texas, and Penn State would have been the top four seeds.
With the changes being made, the top four teams, regardless of winning their conference championship or not, will now be the 1-4 seeds based off of the committee rankings.
According to the committee, if one or more of the five highest-ranked conference champions are ranked outside of the top-12, that team or teams would move up to the 12th seed, 11th seed, etc.
College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark says the committee felt that it was in the best interest of the game to make the change to the playoff format.
“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. This change will continue to allow guaranteed access to the Playoff by rewarding teams for winning their conference championship, but it will also allow us to construct a postseason bracket that recognizes the best performance on the field during the entire regular season,” stated Clark.
Teams ranked 5-12 will play in the first round of the playoffs with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds either on campus or at another side designated by the higher seed.
The committee says that all other operational policies will remain the same for the 2025-2026 season.
The College Football Playoff will begin in December before concluding with the national championship game Monday, January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
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