The College Football Playoff is making moves, folks! The big news is that they’re switching to a straight seeding model starting this fall. That means the selection committee’s top four teams will get the top four seeds and a first-round bye. The decision was reached unanimously by the 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director, Pete Bevacqua.
What’s the deal with the change? Well, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said it’s all about serving their constituents and doing what’s best for college football. Even if it doesn’t always benefit the ACC, they believe it’s the right decision. Last season, the top four seeds were given to the highest-ranked conference champions, but now, independent Notre Dame can also snag a first-round bye if they make it to the top four.
The new format will still guarantee spots for the five highest-ranked conference champions in the 12-team field. The CFP management committee decided to stick to the $8 million financial commitment for the top four seeds, with $4 million for reaching the playoffs and another $4 million for making it to the quarterfinals. When looking back at last year, Mountain West Conference champ Boise State and Big 12 champ Arizona State would have been top-four seeds with the new seeding model. It’s all about recognizing the best performance on the field during the regular season. So, while there’s still discussion about the future format beyond 2026, it looks like the CFP is heading in a new direction.
But hey, who really knows why this matters, right? Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like this change could shake things up in the college football world. It’s all about rewarding teams for their hard work and giving everyone a fair shot at the playoffs. And let’s not forget about the money – those conference champions are still getting their chunk of the $8 million pie. So, while the CFP’s future format is still up in the air, one thing’s for sure – things are changing in the world of college football.
