Reports: College Football Playoff to Expand to 12

Do AAC and Ohio valley constitute "conferences?" Or are the 6 going to be limited to a list of some sort

JohnGalt said:

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Do AAC and Ohio valley constitute "conferences?" Or are the 6 going to be limited to a list of some sort

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It says six highest ranked conference champions, so I'm assuming AAC and Ohio Valley won't make it most years.

Are Thamel and Captain Obvious the same person?!?!?!


Thamel later added that money was the key component in the decision.

"Presidents felt as if they were leaving too much on the table. [Money] could end up a powerful motivator for starting prior to 2026," Thamel tweeted.

Even if they're down to only four schools, the PAC remains a conference and claims a playoff spot for their champion.

Bowlsby suggests we have co-champs and claim that each makes the playoff.

Interpretation:

"The top 6 SEC teams and 6 2nd tier teams."

Hopefully not, but pretty much the way it's currently viewed. They haven't figured a way to get 3 SEC teams in yet, but more often than not there at least 2 teams in the final 4.

This is fantastic news for anyone not in the Big10 or SEC. This format preserves the validity of other conferences. Sure, the easiest way to a big paycheck is getting an invite to the SEC or B1G but for everyone else it's about media exposure/eyeballs/brand recognition which can be earned with winning programs and competing for titles! Having the opportunity preserved by this format means everything!

So safe to say based on today's conference alignment we would have one team representing the following conferences:
Big 12
ACC
Pac 12
Big Ten
Pac 12
SEC
+
Top 6 ranked teams not included above?

Does this expansion help our negotiations with any of the networks?

TwoJays22 said:

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Interpretation:

"The top 6 SEC teams and 6 2nd tier teams."

Hopefully not, but pretty much the way it's currently viewed. They haven't figured a way to get 3 SEC teams in yet, but more often than not there at least 2 teams in the final 4.

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Interesting I need to figure out where 1/4 is more often than not.

BU82EX said:

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So safe to say based on today's conference alignment we would have one team representing the following conferences:
Big 12
ACC
Pac 12
Big Ten
Pac 12
SEC
+
Top 6 ranked teams not included above?

Does this expansion help our negotiations with any of the networks?

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...and does this stop realignment for the foreseeable future? No need for Pac schools to jump when they would almost certainly have a team in the top 12 each year.

LagunaBear said:

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BU82EX said:

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So safe to say based on today's conference alignment we would have one team representing the following conferences:
Big 12
ACC
Pac 12
Big Ten
Pac 12
SEC
+
Top 6 ranked teams not included above?

Does this expansion help our negotiations with any of the networks?

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...and does this stop realignment for the foreseeable future? No need for Pac schools to jump when they would almost certainly have a team in the top 12 each year.

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yes, realignment should be on pause for now. there's really no short-term incentive for the Big 10 to continue expanding until they get a feel for the 12-team format. if the Big 10 doesn't expand, then it appears doubtful that the Big 12 will be able to get any Pac schools to jump.

of course, you'll hear the exact opposite sentiment on the premium board. 95% of them already have Oregon/Washington slotted for the Big 12 and Cal/OSU/Wazzu in the MWC.

All good unless the big and sec decide to go off and do their own thing.

EatMoreSalmon said:

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All good unless the big and sec decide to go off and do their own thing.

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the length of the new CFP TV contract will be telling

Details from si.com:

I realize the financial incentive for jumping to the SEC or Big 10 when invited. But with the expanded playoffs, one wonders if some of the recent jumps to these mega-conferences will cause some level of regret for the teams in the future (other than bank) as USC and UCLA watch an Oregon or Stanford go to the playoffs, and OU and UT watch Baylor or Okie St do the same as they stay home on their pile of money. Will their fan bases be satisfied with pretty good seasons and Alamo Bowl-type finishes into perpetuity as North Carolina State plays Ohio State in the first round of serious post-season?

Grumpy said:

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I realize the financial incentive for jumping to the SEC or Big 10 when invited. But with the expanded playoffs, one wonders if some of the recent jumps to these mega-conferences will cause some level of regret for the teams in the future (other than bank) as USC and UCLA watch an Oregon or Stanford go to the playoffs, and OU and UT watch Baylor or Okie St do the same as they stay home on their pile of money. Will their fan bases be satisfied with pretty good seasons and Alamo Bowl-type finishes into perpetuity as North Carolina State plays Ohio State in the first round of serious post-season?

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I can't decide whether the new playoff format hurts or helps the jumpers.

Obviously it adds to the bottom line (like UT needs more money?) but otherwise not sure.

I'd assume helps. Nothing will be done to make things "fair". This is just a bone. A diversion but we'll likey look back after 5 years of it and say ahhhh it seemed good on the surface but wasn't quite what we expected

I do not think this changes conference realignment. Much. It might add a couple of million per school to PAC 12 , but so will it to other conferences. The money gap is still the same. I suspect that will drive all this home in a week or two when the Big 12 gets their new media deal.
I believe within 30 days we have some answers. Big 12 is like NASCAR 25 -20 years ago. Looked down on by racing purists, but fans came and watched and eyeballs tuned in on TV. The Indy league is like the PAC 12 .

Grumpy said:

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I realize the financial incentive for jumping to the SEC or Big 10 when invited. But with the expanded playoffs, one wonders if some of the recent jumps to these mega-conferences will cause some level of regret for the teams in the future (other than bank) as USC and UCLA watch an Oregon or Stanford go to the playoffs, and OU and UT watch Baylor or Okie St do the same as they stay home on their pile of money. Will their fan bases be satisfied with pretty good seasons and Alamo Bowl-type finishes into perpetuity as North Carolina State plays Ohio State in the first round of serious post-season?

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excellent point. there will be a few schools in the Pac and a few in the Big 12 who reap considerable rewards from this. winning the Big 12 likely gets you a top 4 seed.

if Baylor can do that in 2 of the first 3 years of the new CFP, then recruiting is going to spike. suddenly you're seen as a power program that's consistently making it at least to round 2 of the playoffs.

meanwhile, Notre Dame can never get a top 4 seed even if they finish ranked #1 under the new format. and it's going to be near impossible for Texas or Oklahoma to win a top 4 seed anytime soon.