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TV ratings could factor into determining CFP bids for conferences, per report
By Andrew Olson
Published:
College Football Playoff leaders are set to meet in Las Colinas, Texas, this week for their annual spring meetings, where they will be discussing the most pressing topics, including the CFP format for 2026 and beyond.
Over the past few months, it was been widely reported that the SEC and Big Ten are pushing for a 14- or 16-team Playoff that would include 4 automatic qualifiers each for the 2 conferences. The ACC and Big 12 would receive fewer automatic qualifiers, reportedly 2 for each conference. Reported formats also provide an automatic bid for Notre Dame if it meets a ranking requirement and for the top Group of 5 conference champion. The remaining spots would go to 1 or 3 at-large bids.
The suggested formats with automatic qualifiers have been polarizing amongst CFB fans, including media observers. A new report from ESPN’s Heather Dinich notes that some commissioners are hoping to hear alternative ideas during the spring meetings.
Per Dinich, one suggestion is that conferences could earn automatic bids instead of having a set allotment. The CFB insider says that TV ratings could potentially play a factor, as well.
One possibility, which could be viewed as a compromise, is having conferences earn automatic bids through their play each season,” Dinich writes. “A model in which each Power 4 league can earn guaranteed spots through a combination of its teams’ overall records — and maybe even TV ratings, according to a source — could be presented. The highest-ranked conferences would earn the most automatic bids.
It’s worth remembering that the SEC and Big Ten have “the bulk of control” over the format for 2026 and beyond. The conferences have worked together on CFP expansion and have expressed interest in planning an annual SEC-B1G challenge under the assumption that both conferences would be receiving 4 automatic qualifiers for the College Football Playoff.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
