As energy brokers in school soccer are within the midst of intense debates concerning the way forward for the Faculty Soccer Playoff for 2026 and past, the Large Ten and SEC are at present pushing for a 14-team mannequin that might not solely assure three automated bids for every convention but additionally reserve the format’s two first-round byes for every league’s respective champion, sources confirmed to CBS Sports activities’ Dennis Dodd. The 2 leagues lobbying for the assured byes was a counter-proposal after they initially pushed for 4 automated CFP bids apiece. 

The proposed “3-3-2-2-1” mannequin would additionally grant two bids every to the ACC and Large 12 and one to the highest-ranked Group of 5 crew. The three remaining at-large berths could be divided among the many next-highest-ranked groups. 

In accordance with Yahoo Sports activities, seeding for the playoff could be largely decided by the CFP Choice Committee’s rankings. That differs from the 12-team format for 2024 and 2025 the place the highest 4 seeds within the bracket are all convention champions. On this proposed 14-team mannequin, the Large Ten and SEC champions would be the solely groups to obtain a bye, whereas then the remainder of the automated qualifiers can be seeded based on the playoff rankings.

This is only one of a number of fashions on the desk and a last deal is probably going a methods off, sources additionally confirmed to Dodd, however the rush to get a consensus on the way forward for the CFP comes throughout a turbulent time for school sports activities. 

CFP management is anticipated to proceed assembly and discussing the format proposals, in addition to the income distribution choices. CFP govt director Invoice Hancock has set a delicate deadline for mid-March to achieve a last settlement, citing the CFP’s pending tv contract negotiations as a serious cause to expedite a format determination.