2026 12 Team CFP

I can't follow this.


This is what I think is correct, but easily could be wrong.

- Three of the P4 conf champs are ranked top 10
- Last is ranked #20
- Top G6 is ranked #13
- Notre Dame ranked #12

I think the new rules guarantee an at-large to ND. Last year's rules would not, and they very likely would have been left out.

Actual auto-bids go to the four P4 conf champs no matter what, plus the top ranked G6 conf champ no matter what.

It's a defacto conditional auto-bid for ND, but using an at-large to do it.
You got it:


In -
Power 5 champ #10
Power 5 champ #13
Power 5 champ #25
G6 champ # 17
Notre Dame #12


Also in
Power 5 champ #1
Power 5 champ #2

Also in
At large #3
At large #4
At large #5
At large #6
At large #7



Out
#8, 9, 10, 11



I don’t think it’s a likely scenario but it’s a plausible scenario.

Big ten champ is 11-2 with a non conference loss and a soft schedule. But wins a major upset in conference title game.
ACC champ is Duke from this year
Big 12 champ is this year but BYU beat tech in rematch
Notre dame goes 10-2 against next years soft schedule
 

You got it:


In -
Power 5 champ #10
Power 5 champ #13
Power 5 champ #25
G6 champ # 17
Notre Dame #12


Also in
Power 5 champ #1
Power 5 champ #2

Also in
At large #3
At large #4
At large #5
At large #6
At large #7



Out
#8, 9, 10, 11



I don’t think it’s a likely scenario but it’s a plausible scenario.

Big ten champ is 11-2 with a non conference loss and a soft schedule. But wins a major upset in conference title game.
ACC champ is Duke from this year
Big 12 champ is this year but BYU beat tech in rematch
Notre dame goes 10-2 against next years soft schedule
OK Thanks


Other than it's only a P4 now, not a P5.

P4 + highest G6
 

24 team tournament probably ends the season earlier than it’ll end next year

I just want fewer at larges. The more in the hands of the team and the less in the hands of the committee the better
Which why I like 12 more than 16

I also don’t mind byes if it’s 13-15 days off. Once you get more than that it isn’t really a help.

If I get a bye so I get 4 weeks off but you got no bye but got two weeks off, then a game, then another two weeks off…we actually both got a bye.


the two things I care most about are limiting at larges because I think it diminishes the regular season and the calendar





I guess people complaining about non competitive in but okay putting Alabama in this year just doesn’t make sense to me.
12 let’s non competitive in.
At least 24 most of the non competitive would be a conference champion rather than the 6th best team in the SEC.




If I had my actual choice it would be 12.
Any conference champion in the massey top 40 is automatically in.
The rest convert to at larges.
As few as 1 at large, as many as 12
This year there would’ve been 7 conference champs and 5 at larges.
Also fine lowering that 40 to 30.
Ideally what I would like is any conference champ that has one or fewer losses to be auto bids…but hard to do that without incentivizing no good non conference games.
I get it. I actually think 8 is fine but could accept the currentv12 or go to 16.

Since teams with byes are 1 - 7 the last 2 years. I wonder if most coaches want one.

I want conference champs in, whether conference championship or best conference record and the rest at-large. Don't really care if best G6 gets one or not. Only if they're ranked high enough, I guess.
 


I get it. I actually think 8 is fine but could accept the currentv12 or go to 16.

Since teams with byes are 1 - 7 the last 2 years. I wonder if most coaches want one.

I want conference champs in, whether conference championship or best conference record and the rest at-large. Don't really care if best G6 gets one or not. Only if they're ranked high enough, I guess.
The thing about the byes record though is that the Vegas favorite is like 6-2

I don’t think they lost because of the bye I think they lost because they’re the worse team.
 









I am saying in the 2026 playoff Duke and notre dame would bump out Miami and Alabama


And the ACC should design a schedule to have their best team (Miami) win the conference and make the playoff rather than their 3rd or 4th best team (Duke)

Because the ACC made the national title game whereas Duke probably loses by 25 @ Oregon



I get what you’re saying and agree with you. But I’m talking about something else.
Or do what the big ten and SEC do and manipulate the tie breaking system so that you can select the two highest ranked teams in the league in the event of a tie. Problem solved
 

Or do what the big ten and SEC do and manipulate the tie breaking system so that you can select the two highest ranked teams in the league in the event of a tie. Problem solved
Good point which is why I’m into a 24 team playoff with set auto bids

Who is big ten 5?
Thats up the the big ten
Who is big 12 3? That’s up the big 12

Etc
 




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