As the Southeastern Conference (SEC) prepares to adopt a nine-game conference schedule in 2026 to align with the College Football Playoff (CFP) committee’s new emphasis on strength of schedule, speculation is growing about expanding the CFP beyond its current 12-team format. A 24-team playoff, though not yet implemented, would dramatically reshape NCAA football’s postseason, offering more opportunities for teams across Power Four conferences (SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC) and Group of Five programs. Here’s how a 24-team playoff could look for the 2025 season, based on current rankings, projections, and the evolving landscape of college football.
Proposed Structure
A 24-team playoff could allocate automatic bids to strengthen competition and inclusivity. One model might include:
- 10 automatic bids: Four for the SEC, four for the Big Ten, and one each for the Big 12 and ACC champions, reflecting their Power Four status.
- 6 Group of Five bids: One for the top team from each Group of Five conference (American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt) plus one at-large bid for the highest-ranked Group of Five team.
- 8 at-large bids: Selected based on CFP rankings, prioritizing strength of schedule and quality wins, per the 2025 “record strength” metric.
The top eight seeds (likely the Power Four champions and top at-large teams) could receive first-round byes, with the remaining 16 teams competing in on-campus games in mid-December. Subsequent rounds would utilize neutral-site bowl games, culminating in a national championship in early January.
Projected 2025 Field
Based on early 2025 season projections and current AP Top 25 rankings, a 24-team field might include:
- SEC (7 teams): Georgia (1-seed, bye), Texas (5-seed, bye), Alabama (9-seed), Ole Miss (13-seed), LSU (16-seed), Tennessee (18-seed), Oklahoma (22-seed).
- Big Ten (7 teams): Ohio State (2-seed, bye), Oregon (6-seed, bye), Penn State (10-seed), Michigan (14-seed), USC (17-seed), Iowa (20-seed), Wisconsin (23-seed).
- Big 12 (4 teams): Utah (3-seed, bye), Kansas State (11-seed), Oklahoma State (15-seed), Iowa State (21-seed).
- ACC (3 teams): Clemson (4-seed, bye), Miami (12-seed), Florida State (19-seed).
- Group of Five (3 teams): Boise State (7-seed, bye, Mountain West champion), Liberty (8-seed, bye, Conference USA champion), Memphis (24-seed, American champion).
Benefits and Challenges
A 24-team playoff would enhance inclusivity, giving Group of Five teams a realistic shot at national contention while rewarding Power Four teams for tough schedules, especially with the SEC’s upcoming nine-game slate. On-campus first-round games would boost fan engagement, with matchups like Alabama vs. Iowa State or Penn State vs. Memphis generating excitement. The format would also increase revenue, with additional games projected to add millions to CFP distributions.
However, expanding to 24 teams risks diluting the regular season’s importance, as more teams could qualify with multiple losses. Scheduling logistics, player fatigue, and academic conflicts in December pose challenges, and critics argue that lower-seeded teams may face lopsided early-round losses against top seeds.
Implications for 2025
A 24-team playoff would amplify the SEC and Big Ten’s dominance, with their depth securing multiple bids. Georgia, Ohio State, Utah, and Clemson could leverage byes to advance deep, while Group of Five teams like Boise State might pull off upsets. The emphasis on strength of schedule aligns with the SEC’s 2026 schedule change, incentivizing competitive matchups. While a 24-team playoff remains speculative, its potential to reshape college football’s postseason makes it a compelling vision for the 2025 season and beyond.
