Report: SEC, Big Ten looking for 4 automatic bids each to College Football Playoff

The Big Ten and SEC could come together on a scheduling partnership, according to ESPN’s Heather Dinich. In meetings between the conferences, both could seek a substantial change to the College Football Playoff.

“Sources in both leagues told ESPN on Monday they would prefer to have potentially four automatic bids each to the playoff when the next contract begins in 2026,” Dinich wrote. “CFP leaders haven’t determined yet what the playoff will look like beyond this season and next. Some said they need to know that before making any decisions about future scheduling partnerships.”

As one SEC source put it: “I’m for anything that gives us the maximum number of postseason opportunities. I don’t count bowl games as postseason opportunities,” the source said via Dinich.

The Big Ten and SEC could have a stranglehold in the CFP if this goes though. Some officials reportedly expressed interest in limiting the role of the 13-member selection committee or even eliminating it entirely.

The goal would be to remove subjectivity from the selection process. Having automatic spots goes a long way in minimizing it, at the very least.

“While the future CFP format is a long way from being determined, guaranteed bids for eight of the 14 playoff spots to the SEC and Big Ten would receive significant pushback from others and already has,” Dinich wrote.

The Big Ten, which holds regular meetings Wednesday’s with athletic directors, could prepare talking points that could produce “real, concrete things” in relation to this news, per the report.

The current College Football Playoff format consists of 12 teams, with the top four getting a first round bye. The top four teams are determined by the four highest ranked conference champions.

The next seven highest ranked teams get in, along with the highest ranked Group of Five team. Presumably, the G5 team is going to be the No. 12 seed in the CFP due to likely being ranked behind the Power Four teams in the bracket.

The SEC and Big Ten could dominate the playoff conversation this year anyway. With potentially eight total auto bids given to the conference, there won’t be much left for the ACC and Big 12 wild cards.

Back in March, the SEC and Big Ten saw the CFP sign a new six-year, $7.8 billion contract with ESPN that runs through the 2031-32 season. The contract is built as either 11 or 13 games, per Dinich. That would include a 12 or 14-team field and there are protections in place for the ACC, Big Ten, SEC and Big 12 conference champions, Notre Dame and the highest ranked Group of Five champion.

In order for said guarantees, other FBS conferences and Notre Dame surrendered the bulk of control over the future format to the SEC and Big Ten, per Dinich.