The College Football Playoff is changing its format in 2024, and this directly affects the Group of Five.
The CFP Board of Managers unanimously decided on Tuesday to alter the setup for the playoff. Now, the five highest-ranked conference title winners will automatically qualify, and the next seven highest-ranked teams will make up the rest of the field.
Previously, the six highest-ranked conference champions would make it. Then the next-highest ranked six teams would consist of the rest of the field.
This means at least one Group of Five team will make the CFP. The previous rules would’ve guaranteed spots for at least two G5 programs, but it was unlikely that those rules were going to stand after most of the Pac-12’s members departed for other leagues.
G5 representatives on the CFP Board of Managers includes Western Kentucky President Tim Caboni (Conference USA), Tulane President Michael Fitts (AAC), Troy President Jack Hawkins (Sun Belt), Buffalo President Satish Tripathi (MAC), and UNLV President Keith Whitfield (Mountain West).
“This is a very logical adjustment for the College Football Playoff based on the evolution of our conference structures since the board first adopted this new format in September 2022,” Mark Keenum, Mississippi State President and Chair of the CFP Board of Managers, said in a press release. “I know this change will also be well received by student-athletes, coaches and fans. We all will be pleased to see this new format come to life on the field this postseason.”
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College Football Playoff Rules
This year is the CFP’s first season of 12 teams making the playoffs.
Despite the 5+7 change, no conference – including the Power Five – will have an automatic qualifier, and there will be no maximum for a number of teams from any one conference.
With this new format, the four highest-ranked conference title winners will receive a bye during the first round. The next eight teams will be seeded Nos. 5-12, and the higher-seeded programs will host.
Then the quarterfinals and semifinals will be made up of the New Year’s Six bowls, and the national championship will keep being played at a neutral site.
This new format was approved for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The setup for 2026 and beyond is undetermined.
Can A Pac-12 Team Make The College Football Playoff?
Washington State and Oregon State, the two remaining Pac-12 teams in 2024, still can earn a spot in the CFP. However, that path will be difficult without a chance to automatically qualify with a conference championship.
This change is happening in the wake of massive FBS conference realignment. Most of the Pac-12’s members will be playing in other Power Five conferences next season. OSU and WSU agreed to a scheduling alliance with the Mountain West for 2024.
With the Pac-12 being down to two members, it appears unlikely the conference’s No. 1 team would automatically make the playoff as things stand right now. Oregon State and Washington State also won’t be eligible for the Mountain West’s conference title.
The Group of Five In The College Football Playoff
Although this news means the number of automatic qualifiers is limited, at least one G5 team will be in the CFP, which hasn’t happened much in the past decade.
This is similar to a Group of Five team being guaranteed a berth in a New Year’s Six bowl. In 2023, Liberty played in the Fiesta Bowl after going undefeated in the regular season and winning the CUSA Championship.
However, the Flames’ performance in that bowl game may not be helpful for the case of someone arguing more than one Group of Five team should make the playoffs. Liberty lost to Oregon 45-6.
SMU was the next-highest ranked team. The Mustangs went 10-2 during the regular season, losing to Oklahoma and TCU, and won the AAC title before falling to Boston College in the Fenway Bowl. In 2024, SMU will be playing in the ACC.
In fact, Power Five teams were 7-2 against the Group of Five during bowl season. That will also make it more difficult for multiple G5 teams to make the CFP.
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How Many Group of Five Teams Have Made The College Football Playoff?
Cincinnati’s 2022 team is the only Group of Five squad to reach the College Football Playoff. The Bearcats were the No. 4 seed that year and lost to top-seeded Alabama 27-6.
The Bearcats had to go undefeated to reach the CFP that year, beating Indiana and Notre Dame during the regular season. They defeated Houston 35-20 in the AAC Championship.
Cincinnati and Houston are now both playing in the Big 12, meaning no current G5 team has ever made the CFP.
How Long Has The College Football Playoff Existed?
The CFP’s first year was 2015. Alabama, Oregon, Florida State, and Ohio State were in the playoffs that season, with Ohio State winning the championship.
