CFP votes to expand … After what seems like months of dithering, the College Football Playoff’s Board of Managers has agreed to expand the national championship playoff to 12 teams in 2026 when the current contract with ESPN expires. The Board, though, is also reportedly encouraging the various conference commissioners to try to implement it as soon as 2024. According to sources, the new 12-team playoff would include the 6 highest-ranked conference champions and six at-large teams. That’s interesting because it does appear to guarantee Power-5 conference champions an automatic spot in the playoffs which was one of the major sticking points in early negotiations. It also does guarantee that at least one non-Power 5 conference champion will make the playoff every year, although apparently a lot of details still need to be worked out. Also what isn’t clear how the bowl system will fit into the expanded playoff structure. Stay tuned!
