"College Football Playoff Gains Momentum with New 14-Team Format"
Sources indicate that there is "momentum" for a 14-team College Football Playoff starting in 2026, with discussions ongoing about automatic qualification, revenue distribution, and governance. The television deal with ESPN has already been agreed upon, but the CFP's leadership groups still need to finalize the format. Potential models include three automatic qualifier spots for the Big Ten and SEC, two for the Big 12 and ACC, and one for the Group of Five, with Notre Dame potentially earning a spot based on selection committee rankings. Financial discussions center around a more weighted revenue distribution for the SEC and Big Ten, while there's unanimous support for eliminating the rule requiring unanimity to make changes to the playoff.