By: Michael Spiers

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Now that it’s been almost a month since the conclusion of the first ever 12-team college football playoff format, leaders of the two most powerful conferences are set to meet today in New Orleans, and those meetings could have a major effect on the product we watch over the next few years.

College football’s playoff system is about to get another shake-up, with serious talks of expanding to 14 or even 16 teams as early as 2026.

The Big Ten and SEC are leading the charge, pushing for automatic bids for their teams, and it looks like they’re going to get their way.

The most likely format would guarantee four spots each for the SEC and Big Ten, two each for the ACC and Big 12, and one for the highest-ranked Group of Five team. Notre Dame would also get a guaranteed spot—if it finishes in the top 14.

That means if the playoff stops at 14 teams, there might not be any extra at-large spots some years.

In this setup, the top two teams would get byes in a 14-team field, but if they go to 16 teams, nobody gets a bye—just straight into the action.

The selection committee would also take a backseat, with rankings deciding the seeds instead of a room full of administrators debating which 8-4 team is “better.”

One big change could be how conferences handle their schedules. The SEC has been debating whether to move to a nine-game conference schedule for years, and with automatic bids locked in, they might finally do it. The Big Ten already plays nine, and the ACC and Big 12 might follow.

There’s also talk of a scheduling agreement between the SEC and Big Ten, setting up big non-conference matchups like Georgia-Michigan, Texas-Ohio State, or LSU-Oregon every year. That would be great for fans, TV ratings, and—of course—revenue.

With automatic bids taking center stage, conference championship games could change or even lose some importance.

The SEC and Big Ten are looking at new ways to determine their four teams, like play-in games where, say, the third-best team plays the sixth best, and the fourth-best plays the fifth best, with the winners grabbing the last two playoff spots.

Meanwhile, the ACC and Big 12 aren’t thrilled about the SEC and Big Ten grabbing the biggest share of auto-bids.

ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips says the playoff should be “a true championship, not an invitational,” but let’s be real—the CFP has always been more of an invite system than a true playoff.

It is also important to consider the fact that ESPN is shelling out $1.3 billion a year for CFP broadcast rights starting in 2026, so they have a big say in all of this.

There are concerns that a playoff dominated by the SEC and Big Ten could push fans from other conferences away.

If the field expands to 14, there will be two extra first-round games in December, competing with the NFL.

A 16-team format would add four extra games, which could mean renegotiating TV deals to bring in even more money.

This playoff expansion is just part of a bigger power shift in college sports. The SEC and Big Ten have already secured more control over the CFP’s format and money, and they’re looking to take that influence even further.

Beyond football, these conferences—and others—are pushing for more control over things like the NCAA basketball tournament, which could also expand.

Everything is being driven by TV deals, revenue sharing with athletes, and the battle for financial dominance in college athletics.

Decisions are expected soon, but one thing’s for sure—change is coming. Whether the playoff grows to 14 or 16 teams, the SEC and Big Ten are making sure their teams are taken care of.

Conference championships might look different, scheduling could get a shake-up, and TV money will continue to drive the sport’s future.

At the end of the day, this is all about two things: more playoff spots for the biggest conferences and more money for everyone involved. Buckle up—college football’s postseason is about to get a whole new look.