Negotiations over a 14-team Faculty Soccer Playoff format, which might start within the 2026 season, are trending to that includes extra at-large groups amid backlash to bidding from the Massive Ten and SEC that may have afforded the conferences a large portion of the sphere and automated first-round byes every year, sources aware of the negotiations informed CBS Sports activities.
When discussions started two weeks in the past, sources informed CBS Sports activities that the Massive Ten and SEC would search to obtain as many as 4 automated qualifiers every — eight complete — in an expanded playoff. Popping out of the primary Faculty Soccer Playoff Administration Committee assembly, it appeared as if a “3-3-2-2-1” mannequin was gaining essentially the most traction; that may have the Massive Ten and SEC receiving three AQs, the ACC and Massive 12 getting two every and the Group of 5 being assured a playoff bid with three at-large spots remaining.
As a part of that mannequin, the Massive Ten and SEC sought to be assured the one two byes within the bracket on an annual foundation with their respective convention champions instantly advancing to the second week of play.
Discussions have pivoted since that proposed format led to a considerable outcry with equity being instantly referred to as into query.
“What they’re mainly saying is, ‘We do not belief the choice committee. Subsequently, we mainly wish to take away their energy,'” an individual aware of the discussions informed CBS Sports activities.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has lengthy supported a CFP bracket that features all at-large groups. The CFP negotiation course of has been considered one of horse buying and selling with conferences going backwards and forwards with their calls for. All events are in search of a decision inside the subsequent few weeks because the CFP seeks to agency up a take care of ESPN for future media rights.
One other supply aware of the method informed CBS Sports activities that the idea of byes and automated qualifiers “all went out the window” for convention commissioners. That does not essentially imply these parts won’t issue into the ultimate resolution; it was conveyed that additional discussions had been wanted on the subject.
Although the debut of a second expanded CFP bracket is 34 months away, time is of the essence in hashing out the small print, primarily as income distribution among the many conferences must be labored out.
One such proposal being circulated would come with 58% of mixed CFP income going to the Massive Ten and SEC with the ACC and Massive 12 splitting roughly $31 million. The remaining 10% can be divvied up between Notre Dame and the Group of 5 conferences, in response to Yahoo Sports activities.
The Energy 5 conferences cut up $400 million equally (about $80 million every) underneath the present format. That represents about 78% of annual CFP income. The opposite 22% goes to the Group of 5, which then decides how that slice is cut up between the 5 conferences based mostly off on-field accomplishments.
The timeline for the ten FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick to have a format finalized for 2026 and past is mid- to late-March, one supply informed CBS Sports activities.
Together with the newest spherical of convention realignment, the Massive Ten and SEC would have mixed to fill 9 spots (75%) if a 12-team format was in place for the 2023 season. Over the 10-year historical past of the CFP, the Massive Ten and SEC — as constructed in 2024 and past — would have mixed for a mean of seven.6 groups in a 12-team subject, in response to CBS Sports activities analysis.
