CFP Commissioners Delay Decisions on Format Changes

College Football Playoff (CFP) commissioners met in Dallas to discuss potential changes to the playoff format, particularly regarding the seeding of the 12-team field. While there was an extensive discussion, no decisions were made, as the committee stated they need more data before proceeding. Future meetings are scheduled for March and April, with any changes requiring unanimous approval. Notably, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti have expressed a desire for straight seeding instead of awarding first-round byes to the top four conference champions, a proposal that has met with some opposition. The discussions are crucial as the current playoff structure will be revisited ahead of the 2025 season, the final year of the current CFP contract. The SEC and Big Ten are expected to hold significant influence in any forthcoming decisions, particularly with a new contract with ESPN set to begin in 2031.