Report: Commissioners recommend changes to 12-team College Football Playoff format

The 12-team College Football Playoff format could be getting closer to change. This week, the CFP took another step toward changing from the number of auto-bids, Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported Friday, and the path for a Pac-12 team to make the field could get much tougher.

When the CFP announced the 12-team format, it went with a “6-plus-6” format. That meant the six highest-ranked conference champions would make the field and six teams would receive at-large bids. Under the commissioners’ new recommendation, the model would go to “5-plus-7,” giving the five highest-ranked conference champions an auto-bid while adding an at-large bid.

In order for the move to become official, the Board of Managers would have to unanimously approve it.

Considering the current state of the Pac-12, a big question was whether the remaining two teams — Oregon State and Washington State — would be able to automatically qualify even though the other 10 teams departed. During Thursday’s CFP meeting, the management committee decided on a new policy that required conferences to have at least eight members to have the league champion make the 12-team field, Dellenger reported.

The programs have been fighting for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff field for at least two years as a two-team league, but the new policy would make the “Pac-2” ineligible in its current state.

The 2024 season will mark the beginning of a wave of change for the CFP. Executive director Bill Hancock announced his intention to retire earlier this year, and he will stay on through January 2025. On Friday, the College Football Playoff announced Air Force Academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Richard Clark will assume the role.

Clark will retire from the Air Force in 2024 and join the CFP for a “transition year,” according to the announcement. Hancock will officially retire in January 2025.

“I’m pleased to announce that Lieutenant General Clark has accepted our offer to run the CFP and I’m highly confident he will do a superb job in this important position,” said Mark Keenum, president of Mississippi State University and the chairman of the College Football Playoff Board of Managers, in a statement. “General Clark’s experience leading the U.S Air Force Academy as a Three-star General and also being a four-year letter winner with the U.S Air Force Football team gives him a strong background to excel in this crucial leadership role.

“I would add that we will surely miss Bill Hancock, but I want to note that Bill has graciously offered to stay on board through January 2025 to help General Clark get ready. Bill will remain at the helm throughout this season, while 2024 will mark a year of transition. Bill has been an outstanding leader for CFP’s first 10 years. Everyone in college football owes Bill a debt of gratitude.”