A four-member working group proposes a 12-team College Football Playoff
On June 10, 2021, a four-member working group of commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director presented to the FBS commissioners a plan to expand the playoff from four teams to 12.
Bill Hancock, College Football Playoff executive director
This proposal at its heart was created to provide more participation, for more players and more schools
Heather Dinich’s report for ESPN, as published by ABC News
The proposal
Bob Bowlsby, Big 12 commissioner
We probably underestimated -- ‘we’ being the A5 commissioners -- how difficult it was to be on the outside looking in on a four-team playoff
Heather Dinich’s report for ESPN, as published by ABC News
Greg Sankey, SEC commissioner
That doesn’t work if you are reducing opportunities for those highly ranked
Associated Press, via KOLD
Bill Hancock, College Football Playoff executive director
Twelve keeps September important but also keeps November important
Associated Press, via KOLD
Associated Press
The College Football Playoff announced Thursday it will consider expanding from four to 12 teams to settle the championship, with six spots reserved for the highest-ranked conference champions and the other six going to at-large selections.
Reaction
Through Jun 18, 2021
Backs the proposal
George Kliavkoff, incoming Pac-12 commissioner
The good news is that everyone who’s on this conference committee supports expansion
Adds a condition
Keith Gill, Sun Belt commissioner
Playoff spots should be earned and not given. Under the proposed system, if you are a deserving team, you should have no concerns of being left out of the playoff.
The working group’s own words
Bob Bowlsby, Big 12 commissioner
This is an enormous undertaking with dozens and dozens of moving parts, and it’s not going to be a rapid process
Bill Hancock, College Football Playoff executive director
Vetting with everyone on campus will be an important element
Jack Swarbrick, Notre Dame athletic director
I look forward to never hearing again about how we played one less game or don’t have a conference championship.
Heather Dinich’s report for ESPN, as published by ABC News
Related
- The playoff working group proposes a 12-team fieldThis page
- Sep 2, 2022The College Football Playoff board votes unanimously to expand the field to 12 teams
- Dec 20, 2024Notre Dame 27, Indiana 17
Sources
News and releases
KOLD, Jun 10, 2021“College Football Playoff considering expansion to 12 teams”
Associated Press, via KOLD
ABC News, Jun 10, 2021“College Football Playoff will consider proposal for expanding to 12-team format”
ESPN, Jun 18, 2021“College Football Playoff’s 12-team model goes before top decision-makers next week”
DawgNation, Jun 18, 2021“12-team College Football Playoff moving forward but not finalized”
College Football Playoff release of Friday, June 18, 2021, as quoted by DawgNation