The SEC and Big Ten advocate for significant changes to the College Football Playoff (CFP) structure, pushing for expansion to 14 or 16 teams. This proposal includes automatic bids for up to four teams from each conference, while the ACC and Big 12 would receive two slots, and the Group of Five would maintain at least one.
Following the 2025 season, the SEC and Big Ten will control CFP decisions. Critics argue expansion is excessive, noting that the first excluded team in a 12-team playoff last season had four losses, including three defeats against teams that combined for a 21-18 record. CBS Sports Analyst Adam Breneman has offered insights on the ongoing tussle and discussed the potential challenging roadblocks.
SEC and Big Ten Push for Major Changes, Roadblock Ahead
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Big Ten are pushing for significant adjustments to the College Football Playoff (CFP) format, specifically targeting the seeding process. Their proposed “straight seeding” system would rank teams based on the CFP selection committee’s evaluations. It would eliminate automatic top-four byes for conference champions unless they are among the top-ranked teams.
Breneman highlighted the SEC and Big Ten’s intentions, stating:
“The SEC and the Big Ten are lobbying for major changes to the college football playoff seeding….”So now the SEC and the Big Ten are proposing to eliminate the first-round buys that go to the four conference champions.”
The SEC and Big Ten are lobbying for massive changes to the CFP — aiming to eliminate automatic byes for the highest-ranked conference champions.
For it to pass, every conference and Notre Dame must agree unanimously — a near-impossible hurdle with the Big 12 and ACC unlikely to… pic.twitter.com/kNlMdyg1Q7
— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) March 10, 2025
Breneman referenced the previous season, when Boise State and Arizona State — ranked ninth and 12th — secured top seeds after winning their respective conferences, pushing Texas and Penn State down to the fifth and sixth spots. The proposed format prevents such situations by basing seeding solely on rankings.
However, implementing this change requires unanimous agreement from all 10 FBS conferences and Notre Dame — an unlikely outcome given strong opposition from the ACC and Big 12. These conferences argue that the proposal favors the SEC and the Big Ten, reducing their chances of earning top seeds and affecting revenue distribution.
Breneman also emphasized the financial implications, explaining:
“Teams earn four million for each round they make it to. Teams who get a buy cash in an eight million check. Changing the seating could have other conferences potentially lose out on millions of dollars.”
Had the proposed system been in place last season, the SEC and Big Ten would have gained an additional four million each, directly cutting into payouts for the Big 12 and Mountain West.
Financial concerns are key to the resistance from the ACC and Big 12, as conference payouts heavily influence team resources in the revenue-sharing landscape. Breneman pointed out that both conferences are unwilling to compromise on this issue, stating:
“College football is ultra-competitive, and teams need every dollar to compete at the highest level, especially in the revenue-sharing era. The Big Ten and SEC won as much of the revenue as possible. The Big 12 and ACC are not willing to give that up. The playoff format is likely locked in for 2025, but let me know in the comments if you’d like to see these changes in 2026 and beyond,” he added.
KEEP READING: CFB Analyst Chooses 2 First-Timers Who Could Make the College Football Playoff This Year.
While the CFP format is expected to remain unchanged for 2025, ongoing discussions suggest potential changes could emerge for the 2026 season and beyond. Under the post-2025 CFP contract, the SEC and Big Ten must consult other conferences regarding changes, yet they ultimately have the power to enforce modifications they jointly support.
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