The debate over the College Football Playoff format is heating up as the 202 5 season is set to begin. Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham, a rising star in the coaching world who has taken a bold stance on the future of the playoff structure.
Kenny Dillingham’s Stance on CFP Changes in 2025
Known for his underdog mentality and unconventional approach, Dillingham is advocating for a system that prioritizes fairness and competition over conference politics, the kind of stance that resonates with programs often overlooked by the sport’s powerhouses.
This week, at the Southeastern Conference and Big 12 meetings in Florida, Dillingham made headlines with his candid take on the CFP’s evolution. With Arizona State coming off a surprising Big 12 Championship win in 2024, his perspective carries weight.
I 100% agree!!!! https://t.co/mmRGfZSAEP
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) May 30, 2025
The Sun Devils’ success as a team picked to finish last in their conference last year underscores his belief that the best teams, regardless of pedigree, should have a shot at the national stage. But what exactly is Dillingham pushing for, and how does his stance fit into the broader debate surrounding the CFP?
The CFP has undergone significant changes in recent years, expanding to a 12-team format in 2024 to include more teams and conferences in the race for the national title.
However, the structure has not been without controversy. The 2024 season saw the top four seeds, which received first-round byes, all lose in the quarterfinals, breeding questions about the fairness of the seeding process.
Arizona State, as a 12.5-point underdog, nearly pulled off a major upset in the round, further fueling the debate over whether the current system truly rewards the best teams.
Dillingham, speaking at the Big 12 meetings, expressed his support for the changes coming in 2025, which will move away from automatic byes for conference champions and instead seed teams 1 through 12 based on rankings.
“Every year is a new year, and you never know who’s going to be good in college football, especially with the volume going through the (transfer) portal. So anything that creates an open platform for teams like our guys last year to prove that they do belong, I’m in support of.” he told Yahoo Sports, emphasizing that the focus should be on performance.
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His comments align with Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, who has also pushed for a more equitable system that gives smaller programs a fair shot at the playoff.
This shift in seeding is a direct response to the dominance of the SEC and Big Ten, which have historically controlled the playoff conversation. In 2024, the two conferences would have secured two top-four seeds each under a straight 1-through-12 seeding model, but the automatic byes for conference champions disrupted that outcome.
The new format aims to level the playing field, a change Dillingham believes will benefit teams like Arizona State and others in the Big 12 who have been overshadowed by the sport’s giants.
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