The CFP Board of Managers unanimously approved the expansion of the College Football Playoff from four to 12 teams on Friday.
Unless earlier implementation is possible, the format will begin for the 2026 season. According to a CFP press release, the board has tasked the College Football Management Committee – the 10 presidents and chancellors and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick – with determining whether the expanded playoff could begin in either 2024 or 2025.
The committee will look at matters such as the dates for games, broadcast entities, revenue allocations and possible sites for the 11 games. Those contests will take place on college campuses and could utilize stadiums previously used for traditional bowl games like the Rose Bowl or Sugar Bowl.
: College Football Playoff Board of Managers Votes to Expand Playoff to 12 Teams
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) September 2, 2022
Details on today's meeting https://t.co/x77b7YFPbt#CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/M6LbtdGaEj
"This is a historic and exciting day for college football," said Mark Keenum, Mississippi State president and chairman of the CFP Board of Managers. "More teams, more participation and more excitement are good for our fans, alumni, and student-athletes. I'm grateful to my colleagues on the board for their thoughtful approach to this issue and for their resolve to get expansion across the goal line and for the extensive work of the Management Committee that made this decision possible."
Per the release, the board approved the following changes to the College Football Playoff format:
- The 12 teams will be the six conference champions ranked highest by the selection committee (no minimum ranking requirement), plus the six highest-ranked teams not included among the six highest-ranked conference champions.
- The ranking of the teams will continue to be done by a selection committee whose size, composition, and method of selection will remain substantially unchanged. The Management Committee will modify the selection protocol as required by the change to the playoff structure.
- The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded one through four and each will receive a first-round bye.
- The other eight teams will play in the first round with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds either on campus or at other sites designated by the higher-seeded institution (No. 12 at No. 5, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7 and No. 9 at No. 8.)
- The model allows for first-round games to be played on either the second or third weekend in December in a way that best accommodates the format and the participating teams, with at least 12 days between the conference championship games and the first-round games. The Management Committee would make the final determination of the calendar.
- Subject to reaching an agreement with bowls, the four quarterfinal games and two Playoff Semifinal games would be played in bowls on a rotating basis.
- The national championship game will continue to be played at a neutral site.
- Subject to reaching an agreement with bowls, the four highest-ranked conference champions will be assigned to quarterfinals bowls on selection day in ranking order and in consideration of current contract bowl relationships if those bowls are selected for the rotation.
- With the four highest-ranked champions assigned to quarterfinal games in bowls, the opponent from first-round game winners will be assigned by the selection committee based on the bracket.
- The higher seeds would receive preferential placement in the Playoff Semifinal games.
- First-round games will not have a title or presenting sponsors and existing venue signage will remain in place. The CFP will control the video boards.
Keenum continued his statement and said he felt proud of what the CFP Board of Managers has set forth and looks forward to the new direction of college football, which could start as early as two seasons from now.
"I'm very pleased we were able to get this accomplished and I look forward to expansion taking place," Keenum said. "The four-team playoff has been highly popular and successful. I believe this new format will be even more popular and successful."
