CFP Moves to New Seeding Format for Upcoming Playoffs
There’s been a significant update in the college football playoff system as it prepares for its second year with a 12-team format.
Recently, the College Football Playoff (CFP) Executive Committee unanimously decided to switch to a straight seeding approach, as reported. Starting next year, teams will be ranked from 1 to 12 based on the Select Committee’s evaluations, moving away from the previous method that reserved the top four seeds for conference champions.
This new structure means the top four seeds will head into the quarterfinals directly.
The decision, which was supported by Pete Bebakua and the Management Committee including the FBS Conference Committee and the athletic director from Notre Dame, comes after the noticeable imbalance in last year’s playoff brackets.
For instance, Boise State held the third seed even though teams like Texas and Penn State faced much tougher competition. They had won the Mountain West Championship but still benefitted from a favorable ranking under the existing system.
The first-round teams in the previous season included Oregon, Boise State, Arizona, and Georgia, yet none of them advanced past the quarterfinals.
Oregon, the Big Ten champion, faced Ohio State in a Rose Bowl matchup, ending in a 41-21 defeat against the eventual national champ.
Interestingly, Ducks coach Dan Lanning refrained from criticizing the previous seeding format, despite the team’s struggles. He remarked, “We had the opportunity. We didn’t take advantage of it. I’m not going to make excuses.”
The recent vote also introduced a financial incentive for the top four conference champions, with expectations for them to earn $8 million—$4 million each—for winning their conferences and reaching the quarterfinals, even if they are not within the top four seeds this year.
Looking ahead to 2026, there will be a new revenue-sharing system in place, shifting from performance-based payments to a model that offers base amounts.
Moreover, further discussions are on the table regarding potential expansion of the playoff field, especially as contracts for this 12-team playoff model will conclude after the 2025 season.
