College Football Playoff to Keep Current Model

The College Football Playoff (CFP) Management Committee had a decision with a due date of Friday, January 23, 2026, concerning the future of their postseason, and that decision has been made... for now.

This committee includes all 10 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Commissioners as well as the University of Notre Dame's Director of Athletics. With representation from the entire FBS trying to find the best fit for the future, the committee determined that they will continue the 12-team format for the upcoming 2026-27 season, extending their current model for one more season, essentially giving their debates over the amount of teams they will have in the future of the playoff more time to be hashed out.

"After ongoing discussion about the 12-team playoff format, the decision was made to continue with the current structure," CFP Executive Director Rich Clark expressed. "This will give the [CFP] Management Committee additional time to review the 12-team format, so they can better assess the need for potential change."

"While they all agree the current format has brought more excitement to college football and has given more schools a real shot in the postseason," Clark added, "another year of evaluation will be helpful."

The model for 2026-27 will continue what we saw for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, with the CFP Selection Committee looking at FBS conference champions as well as where schools are in their final committee rankings.

First-round games will continue to be played on the campuses of the higher-ranked seeds, with the fifth-seed hosting the 12th-seed, sixth-seed hosting the 11th-seed, seventh-seed hosting the 10th-seed, and eighth-seed hosting the ninth-seed.

The CFP Quarterfinal and Semifinal Rounds will continue to feature their six CFP Bowls, which are, in no specific order, the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl, and the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.

Las, Vegas, Nevada, will be the site of the 2026-27 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, which will take place on the field of Allegiant Stadium, home of the National Football League (NFL)'s Las Vegas Raiders.

Clark shared with me following the ceremonial handoff of the CFP from one host site to another when we were in Miami, Florida, that the three choices that have been on the table are for the CFP to expand to either 16 or 24 schools, or to remain at 12. That full conversation can be viewed and heard HERE.

Thanks to the CFP for the information, including the quote from Rich Clark, as well as the photo utilized in this article.