CFP board approves 12-team playoff format starting by 2026

The College Football Playoff board of managers has unanimously approved an expansion to a 12-team format starting by the 2026 season, the board announced Friday.

"This is an historic and exciting day for college football," CFP board of managers chairman and Mississippi State president Mark Keenum said in a statement. "More teams, more participation, and more excitement are good for our fans, alumni, and student-athletes."

The CFP is tasking the sport's commissioners to determine whether the new model can be implemented as soon as 2024. The 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick will meet next week in Dallas.

The 12-team model, which follows the recommendations made by the CFP working group last summer, will consist of six conference champions and the six highest-ranked teams not among conference champions. A selection committee will still determine the ranking of the 12 clubs.

Additionally, the four highest-ranked conference winners will receive a first-round bye, while the remaining teams will play in the first round. The higher seeds will host the lower seeds either on campus or at another venue selected by the higher-placed program.

The CFP has featured a four-team format since its debut in 2014.

Expansion appeared inevitable as talks intensified in 2021, but conference commissioners were unable to agree on a format, leading to CFP executive director Bill Hancock announcing in February that the current four-team model would continue until 2026.