The Big Ten and SEC, the two heavyweight conferences in college football, are reportedly pushing for a 16-team College Football Playoff format starting in 2026. This comes just a year after the playoff expanded from four teams to 12, which has already caused debates about fairness.
Now, with the Big Ten and SEC flexing their muscle, the proposed 16-team bracket could reshape the postseason in a big way, potentially including play-in games to decide who makes the field.
The CFP is the system that decides college football’s national champion. It started with a four-team format in 2014, but after years of calls for more inclusivity, it grew to 12 teams in 2024. That setup gives automatic bids to the five highest-ranked conference champions, plus seven at-large spots based on rankings.
But the Big Ten and SEC, which have long dominated the sport with their talent and resources, want an even bigger stage, and they’re not shy about making it happen.
Big Ten and SEC Lead the Charge for a 16-Team College Football Playoff Expansion
The proposal gaining steam would see the playoff field expand to 16 teams, with an apparent tilt toward the Big Ten and SEC. According to reports, the breakdown would give four automatic bids each to the Big Ten and SEC, two each to the ACC and Big 12, one to a Group of 5 team, and three at-large spots.
This structure heavily favors the two power conferences, which isn’t surprising given their influence. Last spring, the Big Ten and SEC secured control over the CFP’s future format starting in 2026, as part of a deal that gave them a larger share of playoff revenue.
This proposal introduces the idea of play-in games within the Big Ten and SEC. These games would pit teams ranked third against sixth and fourth against fifth in each conference, determining which four squads from each league make the playoffs.
It’s a twist that could add drama but also underscores just how much control these conferences want over the postseason. After all, with four guaranteed spots each, the Big Ten and SEC could dominate half the playoff field yearly, leaving smaller conferences fighting for scraps.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: A 16-team College Football Playoff bracket is ‘gaining support’ in the Big Ten & SEC, per @RossDellenger
BIDS: 4 SEC, 4 B1G, 2 ACC, 2 B12, 1 G6, 3 at large
The Big Ten & SEC could have play-in games (3rd vs 6th 4th vs 5th)
Thoughts? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Eh2P60wFZN
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 9, 2025
What’s Next for the College Football Playoff
The 16-team playoff isn’t a done deal yet, but the Big Ten and SEC have the upper hand. They’re set to meet with other conference leaders soon to hash out details, and with their control over the CFP format starting in 2026, it’s hard to see them backing down.
The CFP Management Committee, which includes commissioners from all 10 FBS conferences and Notre Dame’s athletic director, will have a say, but the power dynamic is clear.
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