The College Football Playoff format has been a big question following the 2024-25 postseason.
The Big Ten has been strongly in favor of its conference and the SEC having four automatic qualifiers in the playoffs while the ACC and Big 12 have two each. Unless the SEC adds a ninth conference game to its regular season schedule, the Big Ten is adamant about its preferred format.
Originally, the SEC agreed with the Big Ten, pushing for four automatic qualifiers, but SEC coaches ultimately announced they were not in favor and preferred a 16-team bracket with the remaining two Power Four conferences. This bracket allows five automatic qualifiers with 11 at-large teams.
“There’s no way [Big Ten commissioner] Tony [Petitti] moves off four AQs,” a source said to On3's Brett McMurphy.
That source also said to On3 that the 2026 format won't change from 12 teams unless one conferences gives. So, the Big Ten either needs to back off its demand for the SEC to play nine conference games or the SEC needs to add a ninth.
Petitti won't support the 5+11 format if the SEC plays eight conference games. The Big Ten thinks it's unfair because its teams have nine conference games and three non-conference while the SEC plays four non-conference contests. The SEC also wants the 16-team playoff format to take strength-of-schedule into consideration when choosing the at-large teams. If this were to be the case, the Big Ten will likely continue to be stubborn about the format and not back off its preferred bracket.
After 2025, the NCAA wanted to do an entire do-over with the CFP format and thus started the debates between the conferences. Since no conference is compromising and seems won't do so anytime in the near future, though, the 12-team bracket may be the calmest option to stick with until further notice.
“We have a 12-team playoff with five conference champions,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said on Monday. “That could stay if we can’t agree. I think there’s this notion that there has to be this magic moment and something has to happen with expansion.”
With the push-and-pull happening between conferences, it's unlikely that the format will be official until last minute. The deadline for finalizing the format is Dec. 1, and it'll most definitely be a bit before we know for certain. Until then, the Big Ten and SEC will likely still battle for their preferred CFP format and the NCAA will likely put any adjustments to the bracket on hold until after 2026.