2025 College Football Playoff Tweaks on Hold!

College Football Playoff leaders are considering potential adjustments for the upcoming season, with discussions likely to take place later this year, according to statements made on Sunday. The focus is on potential tweaks to the bye system, potentially to be finalized in the spring, as the current season kicks off the 12-team playoff format.

Conference commissioners and school presidents met ahead of the Ohio State-Notre Dame title game to address issues related to the current playoff season and the transition to the new TV contract set to begin in 2026. The 2025 season was not a topic of discussion during the meeting, with any changes requiring unanimous approval from the commissioners.

One likely area for adjustment is the seeding process, as this year saw top four conference champions receiving automatic byes, leading to surprises like Arizona State (Big 12) and Boise State (Mountain West) surpassing higher-ranked teams, albeit both losing their initial playoff games.

Mark Keenum, the president of Mississippi State and chairman of the CFP board of managers, stated, “We’re going to let the management committee and our CFP staff start these conversations. But we didn’t get into any dialogue in the room about what-ifs. There was none of that discussion.” Changes to the seeding method could potentially be implemented within a shorter timeframe, with more comprehensive adjustments likely tied to the start of the new ESPN contract in 2026.

Among the proposed changes is an expansion of the field from 12 to 14 teams, along with a reconsideration of automatic bid allocations. The wealthier Southeastern and Big Ten Conferences are expected to have significant influence on these decisions, raising questions about the future of conference title games, which may become obsolete as multiple teams from each conference contend for playoff spots.

The potential alterations may also prompt a reevaluation of Notre Dame’s status in the playoff system. Despite the lucrative $12 million payment promised to the independent program under the new contract, Notre Dame currently lacks the opportunity for a first-round bye due to its lack of conference affiliation. Fighting Irish athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, emphasized the need to reassess Notre Dame’s bye eligibility if significant changes are made to the playoff format.

As discussions continue within the College Football Playoff leadership, the landscape of the postseason could see notable shifts in the coming seasons. The balance between conference representation, seeding methods, and the inclusion of independent programs like Notre Dame will be key points of consideration as the playoff structure evolves.

For more updates and insights on college football, stay tuned to the AP Top 25 coverage throughout the season. Access the latest news at AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football.

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