Big Ten, SEC seizes controls in the College Football Playoff Format in 2026. A brainstorming method to rethink bracket size and bid allocation process. Fans disagree with that number, but the more controversial factor may be how bids are allocated. The school easily descended when either transaction was paid to the player, but revenue sharing would be another fish kettle that affects the athletic department’s financial ledger.
Up, Up, Up, Up, College Football playoff sizes will advance. Only the SEC and the Big Ten know where it stops.
These two meetings will earn you the final decision on the size and composition of the playoffs that begin in the 2026 season.
Of course, it doesn’t make the rest of us not have an opinion.
In a perfect world, will the playoffs remain at 12 or will they increase to 16 or 24 teams?
Answer fan mail about the subject:
How about the 24-team college football playoffs?
BUD Writing: I think it’s best to extend CFP to 24 teams and 23 games. No as 24 teams will be selected from the top 25 votes. Only 25 teams are excluded.
My answer: 12 team playoff deniers were worried about diluting the regular season. That didn’t happen. This past season packed punches with influential and chaos that would make Vanderbilt fall over Alabama. The regular season was extremely important.
However, it appears that the playoffs will be very large and the regular season will tend to decline. In the 24-team playoff model, Alabama lost to Vanderbilt in October. The result is a trivial footnote rather than turning the Tide’s playoff hopes around. If the playoffs grow to 24 teams, Focus shifts to mediocre teams that take one of the final spots. I don’t know if I like it or not.
It also questions the average fan bandwidth, especially when the playoffs compete with the NFL postseason, to take part in the five-round playoffs at the end of the 13-game season.
However, coaches and managers who have received a bonus check for playoff qualifications may prefer a 24-team bracket.
Big Ten, Seconds showing signs of delusion
Steve writes: Stack the playoffs with articles about the Big Ten and the SEC (consideration). You nailed it about paranoia. Classic textbook case. Both commissioners should be test research.
My answer: Certainly, the impact of paranoia can be found in this idea of booking four playoff bids for the Big Ten and SEC before the season begins.
Power and paranoia tend to go hand in hand. But still, as Caligula did, neither SEC’s Greg Sankey nor Big Ten’s Tony Petitti makes it illegal for anyone to stand on top of them and look down on their heads.
If these are the two best meetings – by the way, they shouldn’t have much trouble winning the most bids without rigging the system. Why are they so afraid?
Money Issues: Expanding all playoffs on revenue for survival
Stacking Deck: SEC, it’s pathetic to try and rig the Big Ten playoff spot
Remove the first round goodbye in the college football playoffs
David writes: Goodbye in the first round worked well, right? They will be removed and expanded to 16 teams. Ensure Power 4 Conference Champions without guaranteed seeds. The committee ranks teams, creates playoffs for 16 teams, and hosts the top 8 seeds in the first round. I hope I live long enough to see such a plan in place!
My answer: How long have you planned to live? I pray for your health. In that case, it may give you a desire to see the 16-team playoffs, but you are becoming increasingly skeptical that the bracket will be chosen by the playoff committee.
There are no complaints for the 3 loss team
Ed writes: It should have taken a little while for someone to explain two biggest meetings of the 12 teams playoffs this year. The only aspect that needs to be revised is the length of the playoffs. The number of teams was good. There was a special type of season to get in and the game was interesting even if you didn’t get too close. It was fun to include a diverse group of teams. The only teams to complain were three losses that failed to get the job done when the marble was on the line.
My response: Amen. We endured the playoffs of four teams for 10 years. We then brilliantly gifted this 12 team bracket and forged it through collaboration and compromise. Unfortunately, we cannot last this 12 team format for 10 years. It may be remembered as the largest postseason format in the history of sports.
Will Nil promote playoff expansion?
Randy writes: Did you think you were a big supporter of Nir? Nir is what “everyone” wanted and brought the game to this, so he blames the two biggest meetings to protect themselves to pay these players It has no meaning.
My answer: nil is like an unpopular president in that it’s all blameless, even for things that have little to do with it. I am the logic that the Big Ten and SEC will financially hurt the athletic department, as fans, boosters and companies fund player transactions. I haven’t followed.
The school did not fund Zero. The bill was handed over to a third party. Nir has become a beautiful system for schools. Imagine that McDonald’s customers not only bought a burger, but also agreed to pay Frie Cook’s salary directly.
That was Niru. Consumers paid direct labor.
Nir is a fish kettle that is separate from the revenue sharing that comes around university sports bends. Revenue sharing with athletes takes a sip from the pile of cash that helps athletes generate for the athletic department. So, yes, I think it’s fair to say that revenue sharing will affect CFP’s expanded speech.
But don’t confuse revenue sharing with nil. Pinning the NIL postseason evolution, which the school of paying vehicles didn’t fund, is like denouncement of a boogieman for your insomnia.
Do you want to transfer the portal to blame the issue of college football?
Phil wrote: IMHO, this (playoff revision) situation is caused entirely by the ability to move players through NIL and the transfer portal. The school wants the best players and gets players who can pay the best players. The team with the most money and access to large television contracts comes from the Big Ten and Seconds. So, after spending the money they do, are you wondering why they are looking for greater benefits?
My answer: MLB must book playoffs for the Mets, Dodgers, Phillies and Yankees.
Again, I’m not following the logic of NIL or transfer freedom that causes playoff expansions and bid reassignment. But there’s a truth to how money is going to avoid college football and he makes the rules for controlling money.
I need a narrator for the biography
Guy writes: I enjoy your writing every day. You are fair and balanced and handing out it to the person you want.
My answer: Can I hire you to narrate a trailer for a biography? I hope there’s a set of pipes like Don La Fontaine.
Blake Toppmeyer is a National College Football columnist for the USA Today Network. btopppmeyer email him at @gannett.com and follow him at X @btopppmeyer. Subscribe to read all his columns.