The College Football Playoff won’t expand to 12 teams until next season, but ESPN’s College GameDay gave fans a tease of what that field might look like with this year’s teams as they stand.
Rather than just have the top four programs contend for the championship, next season will see 12 teams get a chance at bragging rights as the nation’s best college football team.
Per Sporting News, the format already has parameters in place for how teams will be selected for the 12 possible playoff spots.
“The 12-team format will feature, in order, the top four conference champions, followed by some combination of the top six at-large bids and two highest-ranked remaining conference champions,” the website explains. “Teams will be ordered based on the College Football Playoff rankings.
“That guarantees at least one ‘Group of 5’ team will make the Playoff each year and, while it’s unlikely, allows the possibility of more than one G5 team making the Playoff in lieu of a ‘Power 5’ team.”
That’s why, in this graphic, Air Force would qualify as a playoff team right now and Ole Miss and Utah would not.
What a 12 team CFP would potentially look like this season 👀 #CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/nAdFnlqpsz
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 28, 2023
This is a fascinating window into what the future will look like for the sport, and college football fans were very into what’s coming down the road.
CFB fans were really into this expanded playoff format.
We’re going to be watching a totally different sport next year with this and conference realignment really coming into effect https://t.co/HmYZo5yXea
— Colston Connoisseur (@UMvsEveryone) October 28, 2023
https://t.co/GgPETWOjwK pic.twitter.com/abWZ3q081L
— Spencer Perry (@TheSpencerPerry) October 28, 2023
Its absolutely wild to me that people thought this was a bad idea https://t.co/fPxtyR3xbE
— Chazito (@DonChaz25) October 28, 2023
Man😭….
Those match ups with the possible semifinal match ups are so fire🔥 https://t.co/RdAS4lRQcm— Meech Jennings 🖤🥀 (@SteelCityMeech) October 28, 2023
This is so sick, can’t wait for next season https://t.co/ured255qpF
— Aydan Fields (@AydanFields) October 28, 2023
Really excited to see how the CFP Committee handles 2 and 3 loss teams vs lower level unbeaten’s. Should make for some fun playoffs. https://t.co/Wicn0xqTnr
— NCAA 13 Enthusiast (@dayyUM_glasgow) October 28, 2023
Sucks we have to wait till next year cause all these teams can compete with each other (idk bout AF) https://t.co/37fVUIg547
— Hunter Yancey (@HunterYancey) October 28, 2023
This would be the best thing ever. Those matchups are so fun… can’t wait to actually see this https://t.co/hhVz9WilBf
— Luke Peevyhouse (@PVhouse21) October 28, 2023
Not loving that bottom right corner. https://t.co/OpRF4BaqRt
— The Big XVI Ute (@SigmaUte) October 28, 2023
stunning. beautiful. gorgeous. want it more than anything. https://t.co/cUTr1ZObGP
— Lizzie Young (@elizabethgyoung) October 28, 2023
Idk how any college football fan is against this model. Absolutely beautiful. https://t.co/oAhkPK189G
— Logan🍊 (@LoganTheVol) October 28, 2023
It’s beautiful https://t.co/vPMu8FGgvJ
— Kirk (@kirkgwong) October 28, 2023
The first time in years it could be legitimately good https://t.co/iVCaD3stjg
— Stove (@ChiefSteef) October 28, 2023
That Air Force team can bust some brackets in a 12 team playoff 👀 https://t.co/0E20jGqeQ9
— Paul Kasprzak (@Kasprzak1789) October 28, 2023
Need that Air Force – Ohio State matchup. https://t.co/fFEWKfaLs9
— Stephen Ford (@Hightower8585) October 28, 2023
Of course, this would be the perfect year for it https://t.co/qRAEYCdSGI
— Dane Blakeman (@Danomyte6) October 28, 2023
