CFP quietly alters playoff field regs … The big news in college football in the wake of Indiana’s historic national championship win last week was that the CFP playoff field would remain at 12 for 2026 after the SEC and Big 10 could not agree on an expanded format. What didn’t get as much notice was the fact that the CFP committee did tweak the 12-team field. This coming year, the champions of all four power conferences will make the playoff field whatever their ranking, while the automatic non-power 4 rep will be the highest ranked non-power 4 team in the country whether or not they are a conference champion. Lastly, Notre Dame, which was the big loser this year when the committee slid Alabama up into the field, will be guaranteed a playoff spot if they are ranked in the top 12. Good for the Irish, but we’re not sure that the committee realizes that if Notre Dame is ranked, say 12th overall, and a lower ranked conference champion and/or non-Power 4 rep make the field, a higher ranked Power 4 team or even teams will be bumped from the playoffs. Cue the squawking! Have a great day!
