The College Football Management Committee will consider expanding the playoffs to 12 teams when it meets next week in Chicago. The proposal is based on a recommendation by a subcommittee that includes Jack Swarbrick along with commissioners from 3 conferences including the SEC and Big 12. The proposal includes the following:
For those of you who are worried this is a sweetheart deal for the P5 conferences it really isn't. Under this format, Oregon, the Pac 12 champ, would have been left out completely last year in favor of Coastal Carolina because Oregon was not among the 6 highest-ranked conference champions or the 6 highest-ranked remaining teams.
This will be great news for ND if/when this gets finalized.
- 6 highest-rated conference champions (that's includes P5 AND Group of 5 conferences) and 6 highest-ranked remaining teams will qualify.
- 4 highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded 1-4 and receive 1st round byes.
- Teams 5-12 will play each other in the 1st round in a seeded format on the home field of the higher-ranked team. The proposed date will be 2 weeks after conference championship games are played
- The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in bowl games.
- The quarterfinal games will be played on either Jan 1 or 2. Dates for the semifinal and championship games haven't been determined.
- The specific bowl games are also yet to be determined. The higher-ranked teams will get 1st choice in each bowl matchup.
- The championship game will continue to be played on a neutral field.
For those of you who are worried this is a sweetheart deal for the P5 conferences it really isn't. Under this format, Oregon, the Pac 12 champ, would have been left out completely last year in favor of Coastal Carolina because Oregon was not among the 6 highest-ranked conference champions or the 6 highest-ranked remaining teams.
This will be great news for ND if/when this gets finalized.