The College Football Playoff will eye a major change in 2026. The Big Ten and Southeastern Conference have planned a future meeting in which they’ll discuss upcoming proposals on several items. That includes the CFP, and potentially a swell in bids for their conferences.
ESPN’s Heather Dinich reported on Monday morning that the Big Ten and SEC will look to propose having four automatic bids each in the newly-expanded 14-team playoff coming in 2026.
“Sources in both leagues told ESPN on Monday they would prefer to have potentially four automatic bids each to the playoff when the next contract begins in 2026,” the ESPN.com article wrote. “CFP leaders haven’t determined yet what the playoff will look like beyond this season and next. Some said they need to know that before making any decisions about future scheduling partnerships.”
Sources: Big Ten, SEC to talk possible scheduling partnership and CFP future format and automatic bids https://t.co/9VbbMctfun
— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) September 30, 2024
While playoff opponents have all but seen this coming, they were loud and boisterous on Monday as fans became furious with the potential changes on the horizon.
"I'm for anything that gives us the maximum number of postseason opportunities," one SEC source said. "I don't count bowl games as postseason opportunities."
These people are ruining college sports https://t.co/5OWIHwbJDe
— Mike McDaniel (@MikeMcDanielSI) September 30, 2024
kentucky is the only school you should add as a home/home if it comes down to that https://t.co/YSoo0IAKte
— no. 23 crimson quarry (@crimsonquarry) September 30, 2024
When the SEC doesn't think they're getting a fair shake from the CFP committee, you know they no longer live in reality. https://t.co/buA0nmcXas
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) September 30, 2024
This is what happens when you let TV execs and greedy conferences control the sport. The chaos and magic we love, they hate https://t.co/FJN66FzT05
— Harrison McConnell (@HarrisonMcC) September 30, 2024
The standard Big Ten/SEC schedule in a few years might be:
• 9 conference games
• 1 cross B1G/SEC game
• 1 G8 game (home only)
• 1 FCS game
Not sure where this really leaves the ACC & Big 12, or Notre Dame for that matter. https://t.co/x5NqDciu3r— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 30, 2024
It’s just a matter of time now, folks. https://t.co/E4ObqX0QDk
— Matt C. Shoot (@ConfirmedShoot) September 30, 2024
This is the end game of conference realignment https://t.co/plNNvZkEul
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) September 30, 2024
"I'm for anything that gives us the maximum number of postseason opportunities," one SEC source said. "I don't count bowl games as postseason opportunities."
There are a lot of men in brightly-colored, polyester blazers who are feeling sad. https://t.co/fLpNPhxhST
— Tom Ksobiech (@TomKsobiech) September 30, 2024
I told you so.
4 auto, want to play more games against each other, "leaving the ncaa" for some functions.
I was telling the TRUTH the entire time while my moronic hatters tried to create a narrative that I am a troll, stupid, moronic. The haters are the real idiots https://t.co/6oTSUbihnY
— Big Ten information. College football fan (@Genetics56) September 30, 2024
Welcome to the Power 2 and Group of 8 Era! https://t.co/zY2i9qPMXo
— Land-Grant Holy Land (@Landgrant33) September 30, 2024
It doesn’t seem like many, if any, will be satisfied with these upcoming changes. And yet…
