The College Football Playoff (CFP) has a fresh format this year. However, not everyone is on board with the change. FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt has sounded the alarm about the new setup, arguing that it downplays the value of conference championships.
First, the playoffs moved to a straight seeding model. Next, Klatt says teams no longer need a conference title to secure a top seed. He warns that this shift upends the balance of competition. And it will surely start a debate about whether this new system benefits the strongest programs or weakens the integrity of the game.
Joel Klatt Criticizes New CFP Format for Ignoring Conference Championships
The CFP has undergone some significant changes this year. After facing intense criticism from fans and analysts last season, the seeding system has been adjusted. While many agree the new seeding brings more structure, there’s still one major issue bothering people: conference championship games now feel less important.
Klatt has been especially vocal about this concern. According to him, the new playoff format weakens the value of winning a conference title. He believes this change hurts the meaning of the game, especially for powerhouse conferences like the SEC and Big Ten.
These two conferences have produced the last ten national champions, making the debate even more heated.
“Now you’ve devalued the conference championship game. None of us like that,” Klatt said on the recent episode of the “Joel Klatt Show.”
He further explained that while the seeding system might be better for overall rankings, he “certainly doesn’t like the thought of devaluing a game” that he believes should carry real meaning and consequences.
To fix this, Klatt has suggested a new approach. Instead of using a fixed bracket, he believes the CFP should move to a re-seeding model after each round. This would allow matchups to be set based on current performance, not a predetermined path.
“What I would rather see is that we are not going to play a straight bracket,” Klatt said. “Once we seed them, now we’re going to play a straight seeding tournament rather than a bracket tournament,” he added.
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Looking ahead to the 2025 playoff, it’s likely the top four seeds will come from the SEC and Big Ten. Both conferences have removed divisions, meaning their two best teams will now face off in their title game. While this setup may favor elite programs, Klatt fears it could further erase the weight of winning a conference championship.
Discussions are already underway for a potential CFP expansion in 2026. Whether the CFP committee will consider re-seeding adjustments remains uncertain, but Klatt’s concerns highlight the ongoing debate over how best to balance rankings, conference championships, and fair competition.
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