CFP expanding to 14 or 16 teams in 2026

[HailToPitt725]

Under this format, the ACC (and Big 12) would get two autobids each year while the Big Ten and SEC get four each.

Personally, I’m torn on how I feel. I’m glad the ACC will get multiple autobids per season, but I disagree with the B1G and SEC having twice as many. I know that’s the direction we’re headed, but we should be considered equals as long as possible.

I also take exception with the Big 12 being “ranked” above the ACC in the article by assessing how many teams from each conference (accounting for realignment) would’ve made a 14 or 16-team CFP since 2014. The Big 12’s numbers are skewed based on their G5 additions (Cincinnati, Houston, UCF) making multiple appearances that they otherwise wouldn't have had they played in a P5 league during that span.

 

[pafootballguy]

Starting 2026 the money is already unequal

 

[ThePanthers]

Big 10 and sec just carving out more for them (not just cfp but their scheduling agreement) and this will just leak into the expanded ncaa tourney.

People keep saying they will actually go to far and alienate the majority of America, but most will continue to watch while they complain.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Awesome, the MLB model. Pitt will be like the Pirates plus sharing the local market with the Red Sox.

 

[HailToPitt725]

Starting 2026 the money is already unequal

True. At least the ACC will still be ahead of the Big 12. I believe Tony Altimore projects us to make ~$8M more beginning next year… I’ll take it.

 

[cashisking884]

Big 12 doesn’t have a single team that recruits even near a level that would allow them to win a national title, and they are getting two automatic spots to a national title competition?

It’s like giving a man with no arms a spot in the Olympic Shot Put competition.

 

[steelcurtain55.]

The B10 has had this advantage in wrestling for decades. The always received more NCAA invites then any other conference.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Big Ten is on a high right now, but I don't think they're quite on par with the SEC. Certainly not when both conferences are performing to their full potential.

Similarly, the ACC has sucked, but it should be ahead of the Big 12 when both conferences are performing to potential.

So I think the SEC is getting a tiny bit screwed and the Big 12 is getting too much of a bump with these slottings. The Big Ten and ACC seem about right.

If this goes to 16, instead of 14, at least the SEC can make up some ground with at-large bids. So the Big 12 is probably the one I have the biggest problem with. But I get it: it's clearly better than the G5, so if you're going to guarantee a spot to the G5 you have to put the Big 12 ahead of that. At the end of the day, this model isn't too bad - albeit a bit unnecessary, because the current model would play out pretty closely to this anyway. But I do like the objectivity aspect of using conference standings (even if that's a little misleading at times, given the disparity in schedules between team within a conference).

 

[pittdan77]

The B10 has had this advantage in wrestling for decades. The always received more NCAA invites then any other conference.

Been that way with volleyball, too.

This is just watering down the product even more. Probably going to get even worse matchups. It's almost like winning the CFP is nice but everyone wants that participation trophy to say they made the CFP.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

so big ten and sec get 4 bids each and there are 3 at large bids.

Dont kid yourself for one second, one if not both conferences are getting one of those bids a well so in reality, this new 16 team format, you'll have 5 sec and big 10 teams...

 

[Pittisit4me]

Been that way with volleyball, too.

This is just watering down the product even more. Probably going to get even worse matchups. It's almost like winning the CFP is nice but everyone wants that participation trophy to say they made the CFP.

Hey, maybe one of these days we can squeak in as the 2nd ACC team. It gives us a small shot, just saying...

 

[pittdan77]

Hey, maybe one of these days we can squeak in as the 2nd ACC team. It gives us a small shot, just saying...

Might end up being a 32 team, double-elimination, tournament in a few years.

 

[Gep Dawg]

I actually like using the standings as well. I just wish they would adjust how many auto spots a conference gets based on a rolling 4 year performance average. This would be so that if the ACC (or any conference) performs better in the CFP they could get more auto spots in the future like the Champions League does for European soccer. The only problem will be how to settle ties. I think if these rules were in place this year the SEC had 4-5 teams tied for 4th place.

 

[Pittisit4me]

Might end up being a 32 team, double-elimination, tournament in a few years.

Maybe they can expand it to hoops level and have the teams play twice a week!

 

[pittdan77]

Maybe they can expand it to hoops level and have the teams play twice a week!

And open the transfer portal every Friday afternoon.

 

[pafootballguy]

The B10 has had this advantage in wrestling for decades. The always received more NCAA invites then any other conference.

The difference is the Big Ten is best wrestling conference and it is not real close.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

The difference is the Big Ten is best wrestling conference and it is not real close.

What does this matter?

 

[MorningCoffee13]

How could you fault them for trying that? Clearly after this year you can see the CFP is somewhat manipulated and some lower ranked schools had easier pathways. Although the team that wins is really good, I am not sure it's a true championship playoff format.

 

[pafootballguy]

What does this matter?

Because at the end of the day, wrestling is an individual sport and they have the most individual talent. Also, it is tied for the largest conference in the sport.

For the most part, the system is unbiased.

They use winning percentage, coaches poll, and RPI to determine allocations. For each wrestler that reaches the threshold in at least two of the three categories, his conference tournament is awarded a qualifying spot in that weight class. Each conference is awarded a minimum of one automatic qualification per weight class, which will go to the tournament champion, even if they do not have any wrestlers reach at least two of the three thresholds. NCAA championship spots for each qualifying event will be awarded at conference tournaments based solely on place-finish. The coaches’ rankings are determined by a vote of 16 coaches in each weight class with two head coaches from each of the eight conferences. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. Wrestlers must have eight Division I matches in the weight class to be considered with at least one match within the last 30 days. The RPI is a calculation that consists of three factors: winning percentage, opponent winning percentage (strength of schedule), and opponent’s opponent winning percentage (opponent’s strength of schedule). Only matches against Division I opponents at the designated weight class count towards the RPI and a wrestler needs to have wrestled 15 matches to be ranked.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Because at the end of the day, wrestling is an individual sport and they have the most individual talent. Also, it is tied for the largest conference in the sport.

For the most part, the system is unbiased.

They use winning percentage, coaches poll, and RPI to determine allocations. For each wrestler that reaches the threshold in at least two of the three categories, his conference tournament is awarded a qualifying spot in that weight class. Each conference is awarded a minimum of one automatic qualification per weight class, which will go to the tournament champion, even if they do not have any wrestlers reach at least two of the three thresholds. NCAA championship spots for each qualifying event will be awarded at conference tournaments based solely on place-finish. The coaches’ rankings are determined by a vote of 16 coaches in each weight class with two head coaches from each of the eight conferences. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. Wrestlers must have eight Division I matches in the weight class to be considered with at least one match within the last 30 days. The RPI is a calculation that consists of three factors: winning percentage, opponent winning percentage (strength of schedule), and opponent’s opponent winning percentage (opponent’s strength of schedule). Only matches against Division I opponents at the designated weight class count towards the RPI and a wrestler needs to have wrestled 15 matches to be ranked.

I mean why did you list a non-revenue sports? Who cares? The ACC has the best soccer leagues but nobody cares.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Big 10 and sec just carving out more for them (not just cfp but their scheduling agreement) and this will just leak into the expanded ncaa tourney.

People keep saying they will actually go to far and alienate the majority of America, but most will continue to watch while they complain.

Guaranteeing 2 bids for the ACC is a crazy good deal. We could still get 3.

SEC 4
B10 4
B12 2
ACC 2
G5 1
ND 1 (when they qualify)
2 at-large

As for the NCAA Tournament, the P4 is going to restructure it and expand it but probably no more than 72 teams.

Maybe a guarantee of 50% of SEC, B10 going and a guarantee of 40% of ACC/B12.

Would be:

B10: 9
SEC: 8
ACC: 7
B12: 6

This would be problematic this year as the ACC only has 3 NCAAT locks and probably doesn't get more than 4 total. If you look at Lunardi's bracket, this would have SMU, UNC, and Pitt getting in over San Diego State, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. But would anyone really shed a tear if that were the case? Those bubble teams are all similar.

 

[pafootballguy]

I mean why did you list a non-revenue sports? Who cares? The ACC has the best soccer leagues but nobody cares.

Because I was responding to someone who mentioned wrestling

 

[upj87]

Under this format, the ACC (and Big 12) would get two autobids each year while the Big Ten and SEC get four each.

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Personally, I’m torn on how I feel. I’m glad the ACC will get multiple autobids per season, but I disagree with the B1G and SEC having twice as many. I know that’s the direction we’re headed, but we should be considered equals as long as possible.

I also take exception with the Big 12 being “ranked” above the ACC in the article by assessing how many teams from each conference (accounting for realignment) would’ve made a 14 or 16-team CFP since 2014. The Big 12’s numbers are skewed based on their G5 additions (Cincinnati, Houston, UCF) making multiple appearances that they otherwise wouldn't have had they played in a P5 league during that span.

Great, lets add another 2 or 4 teams with absolutely no chance of winning it to the current 8 teams who have no chance of winning it..

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Great, lets add another 2 or 4 teams with absolutely no chance of winning it to the current 8 teams who have no chance of winning it..

funny and true. but hey, more money

 

[boseman7]

College Football is ruined. Wait until teams like SMU and Colorado start blowing up the “superior conference’ narrative. No such thing has conference superiority with unchecked NIL. Best move for most schools would be to be football only in some conference and all the other sports be in a different conference. Like if Pitt was in the ACC for football only and in the Big East for basketball and other sports that would be great.

 

[HailToPitt725]

College Football is ruined. Wait until teams like SMU and Colorado start blowing up the “superior conference’ narrative. No such thing has conference superiority with unchecked NIL. Best move for most schools would be to be football only in some conference and all the other sports be in a different conference. Like if Pitt was in the ACC for football only and in the Big East for basketball and other sports that would be great.

I’ve been in favor of this for a while. Let football be its own entity within the athletic department (classified into different ‘super leagues’) while basketball and other programs return to regionally-based conferences. Reduces operating costs such as traveling cross-country for soccer games.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

College Football is ruined. Wait until teams like SMU and Colorado start blowing up the “superior conference’ narrative. No such thing has conference superiority with unchecked NIL. Best move for most schools would be to be football only in some conference and all the other sports be in a different conference. Like if Pitt was in the ACC for football only and in the Big East for basketball and other sports that would be great.

i feel like you have to kind of lump Football with mens hoops into the same conference. but with the other sports, absolutely. do a much more regional conference. zero reason our soccer or wrestling teams are competing in the acc, baseball, lacrosse, i mean basically everything other than football and mens hoops shouldnt be in the acc..

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

College Football is ruined. Wait until teams like SMU and Colorado start blowing up the “superior conference’ narrative. No such thing has conference superiority with unchecked NIL. Best move for most schools would be to be football only in some conference and all the other sports be in a different conference. Like if Pitt was in the ACC for football only and in the Big East for basketball and other sports that would be great.

I have a feeling that the ACC may add UConn, SJU, Nova, and Gtown. Coach K and Pitino both floated some type of ACC/BE merger recently. Can't take all of the BE but adding UConn hoops to a terrible ACC Bball league plus DC, Philly, and NYC TV markets would be a good thing. Maybe Nova and Gtown agree to play 1 football game per year at an ACC school "for free." This would be a savings of 500K or so what ACC schools typically pay those FCS schools to take a dive.