Many of the headlines about the 2026 College Football Playoff revolve around the fact that the CFP isn’t increasing beyond the 12 teams that have made the field the last two years.
But the CFP is changing – something that was decided on about two years ago – and it has massive implications for the Group of Six.
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College Football Playoff Bracket Staying At 12 Teams
The CFP will continue to have 12 teams in 2026, despite discussions among leaders in college football about expanding the field.
They were considering expanding the College Football Playoff to 16 teams, or even 24 teams down the road, rather than just 12 teams.
The SEC and commissioner Greg Sankey wanted to expand the field to 16 teams. It’s been at 12 teams for two seasons. It was at four teams before that, but the 12-team format has been mostly a success. It created more games and gave more teams a chance to compete for a national championship, including teams from the G6.
The Big Ten and commissioner Tony Petitti were reportedly willing to consider 16 teams if the SEC was willing to commit to 24 teams within a few years, but the SEC wasn’t as open to that. These two conferences have a majority of the decision-making power on the matter.
And because they couldn’t come to an agreement, the 12-team format remains.
CFP News Regarding The Group of Six
Starting in 2026, the Power Four conference champions are guaranteed a College Football Playoff spot. That means just one Group of Six conference champion is guaranteed a spot.
Though, it’s important to know this is not a reaction to this past year. Two G6 teams made the CFP – Tulane after winning the American and James Madison after winning the Sun Belt. They were ranked higher than Duke, which won the ACC with five regular-season losses, in the final CFP rankings.
Now, the Power Four conference champions will automatically make the field, and the next highest-ranked league winner will also make it.
It’s not impossible for two or more G6 teams to make the CFP, but at least one would have to be as an at-large. Considering how hard it is for G6 teams to be ranked at all, that seems highly unlikely.
Notre Dame is also now guaranteed to make the CFP if it’s ranked among the top 12 teams. But that affects the at-large bids more than the G6.
This is all because of a memorandum of understanding signed in 2024 – something the CFP hadn’t officially announced.
CFP Television Deal
The new CFP-ESPN agreement begins in 2026 and will continue for six years.
CFP Revenue Share
The Big Ten and SEC will earn about 58% of the revenue from the CFP, about 29% each, per The Athletic. That equates to more than $21 million per program.
Meanwhile, the ACC will earn 17%, which means $13 million for each school, and the Big 12 will earn 15%, or $12 million per team.
The G6 conference, in total, will get 9%, or $1.8 million per program. Washington State and Oregon State, the only two teams that were in the Pac-12 three years ago that haven’t switched leagues, will earn $3.6 million.
