CFP committee to consider expanding to 12-team format

A sub-group of the College Football Playoff's management committee submitted a proposal to expand to a 12-team format, the committee announced Thursday.

A 12-team playoff model would involve the six highest-ranked conference champions and the six remaining highest-ranked teams determined by the committee.

The top-four seeded conference champions would receive a bye under the proposed model. The remaining eight teams would play at the home field of the higher-ranked side. The quarterfinals and semifinals would then be contested in a bowl game and the national championship would be held at a neutral site.

Independent clubs such as Notre Dame wouldn't be eligible for a bye week in the proposed format, Fighting Irish athletic director Jack Swarbrick confirmed, according to Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated.

The proposal also includes no limitation on the number of teams that can qualify from one conference. Additionally, no conference would be granted automatic qualification.

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson, and Swarbrick are responsible for writing the proposal.

The 10 FBS commissioners and Swarbrick will meet June 17 and 18 to discuss the format. Should an agreement be reached, the proposal will be forwarded to the CFP's board of managers on June 22. A plan to implement the change can proceed if the board agrees on the new model.

The push for expansion has increased over the years, with the 12-team format being rumored as the most likely outcome entering this week.

The CFP has been a four-team format since it debuted in 2014. The committee previously discussed in April the potential of expanding to six-, eight-, 10-, 12-, or 16-team models.

However, CFP executive director Bill Hancock said the playoffs may not expand until after the 2025 season when the agreement for the current format expires.