On Friday, the college Soccer Board of the Playoffs decided expand to a 12-team playoff. According to ESPN, the 12-team playoffs could start as early as 2024.
The 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swabrick will meet next week to discuss the possibility of implementing the format.
The 12-team format was proposed last year but rejected last February.
The 12 teams, similar to other NCAA tournaments, are made up of the six top-ranked conference champions and six teams at large.
Team placements will continue to be determined by the CFP Selection Committee.
According to the report, the top four conference champions will be seeded first through fourth and each receive a first-round bye.
The teams ranked 5th through 12th will play each other in the first round on either the second or third weekend in December.
Quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in the bowl games on a rotating basis and the league game will be played at a neutral venue in the current four-team format.
In a statement about the new initiative, SEC Commissioner Gregory Sankey said, “This is an exciting day for the future of college football. As originally proposed, the 12-team playoffs will create more access for teams and conferences across the country to compete in college football’s championship event.”
“The four-team format was very popular and a great success. But it’s important that we consider the possibility of more teams and student-athletes participating in the playoffs,” a four-member working group said in a statement last year.
Photo: Noelle Redman on flickr
