Home / Sports / Big Ten CFP Plan: Unequal Bids Spark Debate
Big Ten CFP Plan: Unequal Bids Spark Debate
9 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Big Ten and SEC get four automatic bids, ACC/Big 12 get two.
- Play-in games would determine Big Ten's automatic qualifiers.
- League commissioners delayed CFP format decision to January 23rd.
Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti's proposal for a 16-team College Football Playoff, featuring unequal automatic bids for Power 4 conferences, is under renewed scrutiny following recent chaotic bracket selections. His plan allocates four bids to the Big Ten and SEC, two to the ACC and Big 12, and one to the top Group of Five champion, with the remaining spots determined by committee rankings.
Petitti outlined a system where the Big Ten would use a championship game and two play-in games among its top six teams to determine its four automatic qualifiers. The SEC has considered a similar approach. Petitti defends this as a way for teams to earn their playoff spot through additional games, countering criticism that it favors the Big Ten.
Despite Petitti's advocacy, the plan faces significant opposition from the SEC, ACC, and Big 12, who prefer a 16-team format similar to the current 12-team structure. The decision on the 2026 CFP system has been postponed to January 23rd, leaving the future format uncertain as leagues weigh competing interests and historical conference strengths.
