The Upsides and the Downsides of the Proposed Playoff Format from a BYU Perspective
On Wednesday, multiple reports surfaced of a new playoff format which would go into affect beginning in 2026. The new format would be a 14-team playoff with the top two teams getting first round byes. Power Four teams would each receive multiple auto-bids and the G5 would get one auto bid. The automatic bids would be divided as follows:
- SEC: 3
- Big Ten: 3
- Big 12: 2
- ACC: 2
- Group of Five: 1
The remaining three spots would be for at-large teams, selected by the College Football Playoff committee.
There are various reasons to believe that this isn't the best format for the overall health of the sport. However, that's another conversation for another day. Today, we're talking about the upsides and the downsides of the new format from a BYU perspective.
The Upsides
1. Unprecedented access
The Big 12, which consists of 16 teams, would have two automatic bids. That means BYU would be guaranteed a 1 in 8 chance of reaching the College Football Playoff. That would be unprecedented access to college football's biggest stage. In most years, a 10-2 season would be enough to reach the College Football Playoff.
For so many years, BYU has fought for a seat at the table. In this new format, BYU would have not one, but two seats at the table. In the past, BYU was a national afterthought if they lost two or more games. That wouldn't be the case. A magical season wouldn't require perfection.
Credit: BYU Photo
2. Control your own destiny
Is there anything more corrupt in sports than the College Football Playoff Committee? If the 2020-2021 seasons taught BYU fans anything, it's that the less power that committee has the better. It's unrealistic to believe that committee would have done BYU any favors. In this format, BYU would control its own destiny. In its history, BYU has never been able to completely control its destiny. That would make the football seasons much, much more fun.
3. More meaningful games
In the era of independence, the possibility of a special season went out the window with the first loss. That led to multiple games where BYU had nothing to play for besides bowl eligibility. In this new format, BYU would be able to play more meaningful games more often.
In 2022, Kansas State won the Big 12 with three losses. In 2023, Oklahoma State was in the Big 12 championship with three losses. Both of those teams would have been in the playoff under the proposed format.
BYU could have three losses and still have everything to play for in November.
The Downsides
1. Second-class citizen
In the new proposed format, the Big Ten and SEC would officially be in a higher tier than the Big 12 and ACC. That's not great, but it's also probably not the fault of the new format. That has already become the perception in college football. This format just makes it official.
That could impact BYU on the recruiting trail. However, BYU is no stranger to competing with built-in disadvantages. This would put BYU in the clear middle class, a place they haven't always been.
2. The money
In this format, the Big Ten and the SEC would likely get a larger share of the revenue. Not great for the Big 12, who is already at a financial disadvantage in terms of media contracts.
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