Any adjustments to the College Football Playoff for the upcoming season are set to be discussed later this year, likely in the spring, according to playoff officials. This timeline suggests that any changes, particularly regarding how byes are awarded, will not be rushed.
On the eve of the Ohio State-Notre Dame championship game, conference commissioners and university presidents convened to address matters related to the inaugural season of the 12-team playoff and the impending transition to a new television contract commencing in 2026.
However, discussions did not touch upon the 2025 season, where any modifications would require unanimous consent from the commissioners.
One of the most likely areas for adjustment includes the seeding of teams. This year, the four highest-ranked conference champions secured automatic byes, which permitted Arizona State (Big 12) and Boise State (Mountain West) to surpass several higher-ranked teams. Despite this advantage, both teams were eliminated in their first playoff games.
Mark Keenum, president of Mississippi State and chair of the College Football Playoff board of managers, stated, “We’re going to let the management committee and our CFP staff start these conversations. But we didn’t get into any dialogue in the room about what-ifs. There was none of that discussion.”
[Related: Notre Dame AD thinks there’s a chance for seeding tweak in CFP]
One significant proposal on the table is expanding the playoff field from 12 to 14 teams and redistributing automatic bids. Presently, the top five conferences receive one bid each, but the SEC and Big Ten, due to their financial clout, are anticipated to have a more influential role in shaping future decisions.
This potential shift could reignite discussions regarding Notre Dame’s position in the playoff framework. Under the terms of the new contract, the leading independent program is set to earn $12 million for its involvement. However, without a conference title to win, Notre Dame would be ineligible for a first-round bye under the current format.
“Should title games be altered in any significant way, then we absolutely need to evaluate Notre Dame’s eligibility for a bye if they rank among the top four teams,” remarked Pete Bevacqua, athletic director for the Fighting Irish, just a day prior.
