What is the College Football Playoff format for 2026?

The College Football Playoff will remain a 12-team field in 2026, with automatic bids for Big Ten, SEC, ACC, and Big 12 champions, plus one spot for the highest-ranked Group of Six team.

How does the Group of Six automatic bid work in the 2026 CFP?

The highest-ranked Group of Six team in the final CFP rankings will earn an automatic bid for the 2026 playoffs, regardless of whether they won their conference championship.

Is Notre Dame guaranteed a spot in the 2026 College Football Playoff?

Yes, Notre Dame is guaranteed a playoff spot in 2026 if they achieve a top-12 finish in the final CFP rankings.

Home / Sports / 12-Team CFP Set for 2026 with New Auto-Bid Rule

12-Team CFP Set for 2026 with New Auto-Bid Rule

28 Jan

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Summary

CFP will remain a 12-team field in 2026.
Top-ranked Group of Six team gets auto bid, not just champions.
Notre Dame guaranteed a spot with a top-12 ranking.

12-Team CFP Set for 2026 with New Auto-Bid Rule

The College Football Playoff management committee has confirmed that the 2026 season will feature a 12-team field. Automatic bids will be extended to the winners of the Big Ten, SEC, ACC, and Big 12 conferences, along with one spot for a "Group of Six" team.

Crucially, this "Group of Six" automatic qualifier will not necessarily be a conference champion. Instead, the highest-ranked team from these conferences in the final CFP rankings will secure the bid. This adjustment follows a scenario in 2025 where a five-loss Duke team upset their way into the ACC championship game, impacting playoff seeding.

Under the new system, Notre Dame is guaranteed a playoff berth if they finish within the top 12 of the final CFP rankings. The CFP expanded to 12 teams starting with the 2024 season, initially guaranteeing byes to the top four conference champions. For 2025, the playoff moved to straight seeding without these byes.