Since the College Football Playoff’s debut in 2014, the postseason structure has undergone a major overhaul, most recently with its 2024 expansion to 12 teams. Originally replacing the BCS, the CFP selected just four teams based on committee evaluations like strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and conference championships.
However, the new format guarantees berths to the five highest-ranked conference champions and grants seven at-large spots. This shift has lessened the once-crucial weight of winning a league title. What was once considered a near-automatic path to a national championship is now just one of several factors in playoff consideration.
Has the Expanded CFP Caused Conference Titles To Not Matter Anymore?
The transition to a 12-team College Football Playoff has fundamentally shifted how postseason success is achieved, leaving the value of conference championship games in question.
CFP executives in a call today unanimously adopted a move to “straight seeding” for this year’s playoff, sources tell @Yahoo Sports.
Teams will be seeded directly on the rankings, 1 thru 12, eliminating the concept that designated the top 4 seeds for conference champs.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) May 22, 2025
Previously, under the four-team structure, winning a league title was often essential for selection. Now, teams with strong resumes can qualify as at-large bids without a conference crown.
Ohio State’s 2025 national title came without a Big Ten championship appearance. Similar cases include Alabama in 2011 and 2017, and Georgia in 2021—all winning titles without a league trophy. The selection committee weighs multiple criteria: strength of schedule, head-to-head outcomes, and comparative performance.
Conference titles are one factor, not the deciding one.
Under the new format, the top four conference champions earn a first-round bye, giving incentive to win a title. SMU Athletic Director Rick Hart raised concerns about the system.
“It doesn’t make sense for a team in the playoff field when the regular season ends to play a 13th game if it’s going to be used against that team.”
Coaches and administrators are already questioning the purpose of title games in the current landscape.
“They don’t want to be in it,” said Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, citing the risk of missing the playoff altogether.
Former AAC commissioner Mike Aresco warned last year that the only result of title games could be “somebody getting hurt.” His successor, Tim Pernetti, supports reevaluating the entire postseason format.
College Football Playoff Seeding: How New Format Would Change the Course of History in CFP Era
Of the last 60 teams to play in title games (excluding 2020), 42 would have qualified for a 12-team playoff before the game. But tiebreaker controversies have raised more concerns.
Penn State advanced over Indiana despite not playing each other, while BYU, arguably the Big 12’s strongest CFP candidate, missed the title game due to a four-way tiebreaker.
Financially, eliminating title games would cost conferences millions. The SEC and Big Ten games alone are worth over $40 million each in TV rights. Still, Jack Swarbrick, former Notre Dame AD, predicts their end. “It’s going to happen.”
As the format evolves, so too will the place—and possibly the permanence—of conference championships in college football’s postseason.
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