College football has undergone significant transformations recently, marking the introduction of a 12-team playoff system. While opinions on this new structure have varied, it’s clear that the postseason will remain expanded for the foreseeable future.
Moreover, there seems to be a growing consensus about further expanding the playoffs.
As reported by Ross Dellenger from Yahoo Sports, discussions among key decision-makers are leaning toward a potential 16-team playoff format that would likely include automatic bids for conference champions.
On Thursday, four commissioners from major Power Conferences met in New York to discuss various matters, including future playoff frameworks. Notably, the Big Ten and SEC continue to advocate for multiple automatic qualifiers in these conversations. @yahoosports.
– Rossdellenger (@rossdellenger) May 8, 2025
The current contract allocates four playoff spots each to the SEC and Big Ten, with additional spots for the Big 12, ACC, and a few at-large bids. Given the speed of developments, adjustments to this format may occur after the 2026 season.
One particularly intriguing aspect involves the introduction of Play-in Games in the SEC. Traditionally, the top two teams in the conference championship match receive automatic bids. However, under the proposed changes, the third-place team and others, like team six, will compete for an automatic spot, shifting the emphasis towards regular-season performance.
It’s uncertain how long it will take before these changes become reality, but it does seem prudent to start thinking about what a new playoff system might look like.
