The College Football Playoff is on the brink of its biggest transformation yet, but not everyone is cheering. As the SEC and Big Ten flex their muscle, questions swirl about the future of the sport—and who really holds the power. The 2025 shake-up has sparked a wave of backlash, and the fallout is just beginning.
The Power Shift: SEC and Big Ten Take Control
The latest CFP changes have made it clear: the SEC and Big Ten are no longer just power conferences—they’re the power brokers. As Josh Pate observed, “the Big 10 and the SEC are pretty much in control” when it comes to shaping the playoff format for 2026 and beyond.
This shift was cemented when the playoff committee unanimously adopted a straight-seeding model for 2025, a move that many see as catering to the interests of these two conferences.
Pate highlighted the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that led to this outcome: “The SEC and the Big 10 agreed to whatever they needed to agree to in order to get what they wanted this year.
It now looks for all the world like they’re headed towards this model in 2026 and beyond that has the AQ structure built into it”. The new format, widely discussed in industry circles, would grant four automatic bids each to the SEC and Big Ten in a proposed 16-team playoff, leaving the ACC, Big 12, and Group of Five with far fewer guaranteed spots.
This consolidation of power has left other conferences scrambling. As Pate bluntly put it, “The SEC and the Big Ten are going to look at you saying ‘You ought to be fortunate… that we’re even allowing you to compete on the same field as us.’”
His analysis underscores a growing sentiment: the rest of college football is being pushed to the margins as the two super leagues tighten their grip.
Backlash and Uncertain Futures
The reaction has been swift and, in many corners, deeply critical. Many who once championed playoff expansion are now alarmed by its consequences. Pate captured this shift, quoting The Athletic’s Stuart Mandel:
“‘The Big 10 and the SEC are plowing ahead with a bizarre future playoff format—four AQ’s each, double buys, and more—that would cause serious damage to college football. Will anyone put a stop to this madness before it’s too late?’”
Pate’s own response is telling: “There is an army deep and wide of people who supported expanding the playoff who are looking at the result of an expanded playoff and they’re terrified by it.”
One major concern is the diminishing importance of conference championship games. With multiple automatic bids and play-in games under discussion, the regular season’s stakes could be dramatically reduced.
As Pate noted, “If you want to wreck the integrity of the regular season, nothing would do that faster than a 7-5 or 8-4 Big Ten team potentially stealing a bid from a 10-2 or 11-1 comrade that was vastly superior in the regular season.”
Financial motivations are also at play. The SEC and Big Ten’s dominance is expected to drive more lucrative TV deals, further widening the resource gap. As one analysis put it, “More games, more television inventory, more revenue for the elite 34 schools of college football”. The rest of the conferences, meanwhile, are left to accept the new reality—or risk being left behind entirely.
KEEP READING: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Power Rankings
The 2025 College Football Playoff shake-up is more than a format tweak—it’s a seismic shift in the sport’s balance of power. As the SEC and Big Ten chart the course, the backlash from other corners of college football is growing louder. Whether anyone can halt their takeover remains to be seen.
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