The management committee of the College Football Playoff declared on Friday that the 2026 field will still consist of 12 teams.
The decision gives the CFP and conference commissioners more time to think about expanding the playoffs to a potential 16- or 24-team format in the future. At this point, the Big Ten and SEC are at odds over the playoff’s immediate direction.
Rich Clark, executive director of CFP, said in a statement on Friday:
“After ongoing discussion about the 12-team playoff format, the decision was made to continue with the current structure,”
“This will give the Management Committee additional time to review the 12-team format, so they can better assess the need for potential change. While they all agree the current format has brought more excitement to college football and has given more schools a real shot in the postseason, another year of evaluation will be helpful.”
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti will only consent to a 16-team format if SEC commissioner Greg Sankey committed to a 24-team field in three years, despite Sankey’s stated support.
The first round of the CFP will once again take place on campus, while the CFP bowls will host the quarterfinals and semifinals. On Monday, January 25, 2027, the championship game—the most recent national champion to be crowned in FBS history—will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
