Big Ten, SEC Seek Changes to College Football Playoff Seeding

The SEC and Big Ten are advocating for changes to the College Football Playoff (CFP) seeding system, aiming to eliminate automatic first-round byes for conference champions and instead align seeds with the selection committee's rankings. This proposal has sparked significant pushback from the ACC and Big 12, who benefit from the current system. Unanimous agreement among all 10 FBS leagues, including Notre Dame, is required to make any alterations before the 2025 season. The push for change comes after notable mismatches in seeding during recent playoffs, where lower-ranked teams received higher seeds based on conference championships rather than performance. The upcoming CFP Management Committee meeting is critical, as discussions on expanding the playoff format and revising seeding rules will take place. Both the SEC and Big Ten are leveraging their influence to secure a more favorable playoff structure, potentially reshaping the landscape of college football.