Pac-12 changes football championship format

The Pac-12 has altered how teams qualify for its conference championship game.

Starting in 2022, the two teams with the highest conference winning percentage will face off in the championship game, the conference announced Wednesday.

"Our goal is to place our two best teams in our Pac-12 football championship game, which we believe will provide our conference with the best opportunity to optimize (College Football Playoff) invitations and ultimately win national championships," Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff said in a statement.

"Today's decision is an important step towards that goal and immediately increases both fan interest in, and the media value of, our football championship game."

The new change passed with unanimous support from the league's athletic directors, coaches, and board of directors.

The current two-division schedule will remain in place for next season. Scheduling scenarios are currently being reviewed for seasons beyond 2022.

The NCAA Division I Council approved the deregulation of a rule that limited an individual conference's autonomy to determine its football championship. The ruling came after the NCAA's Football Oversight Committee previously recommended deregulation to the council.

The Pac-12 is the first Power 5 conference to change its championship format. The ACC has discussed changing its scheduling format and eliminating divisions as early as 2023.