Report: College Football Playoff managers expected to adopt 5+7 format after Pac-12 dissolution

An anticipated change to the College Football Playoffs upcoming 12-team format is expected to be approved on Monday, according to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, as the CFP Board of Managers looks to change the automatic qualifier count from six to five. The move comes in response to the dissolution of the Pac-12 as a power conference.

Previously, the 12-team format had been approved with automatic qualifiers for the six highest-ranked conference champions with six additional at-large bids. The logic for that division was to effectively lock in the five Power 5 champions and the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion for automatic bids.

With the Pac-12 now kaput, the CFP has eyed altering that autobid count, dropping the number to five has been widely anticipated to pass, despite needing unanimity to pass.

The CFP is also likely to approve a measure requiring conferences have at least eight teams to have a champion be eligible for an automatic qualifier, cutting off chances for the two Pac-12 schools left behind — Washington State and Oregon State — from a path to automatic bid for the time being.

This change to the CFP has been in the works for months

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 a new recommendation from commissioners in late 2023, 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.

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.”