Big Ten Commissioner Proposes 16-Team College Football Playoff With Four Auto-Bids for Big Ten, SEC

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti is advocating for a 16-team College Football Playoff (CFP) format designed to prioritize conference performance and reduce the committee's discretion in team selections. His proposal allocates four automatic bids each to the Big Ten and SEC, two each to the ACC and Big 12, one for the highest-ranked Group of Five champion, and three at-large spots, aiming to reward regular-season conference play and create more meaningful games. Petitti supports playoff "play-in" games during championship weekend to address scheduling imbalances within the Big Ten's 17-team structure and provide additional data points for selection. He argues that expanding the playoff field with numerous at-large bids would complicate decision-making and diminish the value of conference records. The plan contrasts with alternative proposals favoring more at-large selections, with Petitti emphasizing a professional sports model approach to postseason play. This initiative reflects the Big Ten and SEC's significant influence over the CFP's future structure, expected to take effect in the 2026-27 season.