College Football Playoff Finalizes New 5-7 Format
At the beginning of this past season, the Missouri Tigers were nowhere near the consensus radar of College Football Playoff contenders, let alone an appearance in the top 25. However, they finished with an 11-2 record, their best since 2014, and ended the season with a No. 8 overall rank in the polls after a Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State.
Earlier in the season, it was confirmed that the College Football Playoff's 4-team format would turn to 12. In other words, Mizzou would've made the CFP this past season if this was the format.
After an extremely successful year, the Tigers are now aiming to make the 12-team cut next season, but on Tuesday morning, the CFP Board of Managers unanimously revised the qualifying criteria to now include the five highest-ranked conference champions, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams as determined by the CFP Selection Committee.
"This is a very logical adjustment for the College Football Playoff based on the evolution of our conference structures since the board first adopted this new format in September 2022," said Dr. Mark Keenum, President of Mississippi State University and Chair of the CFP Board of Managers. "I know this change will also be well received by student-athletes, coaches and fans. We all will be pleased to see this new format come to life on the field this postseason."
This change modifies the original plan for the new format, which called for the bracket each year to include the six highest-ranked conference champions, plus the next six highest-ranked teams.
Now, the four highest-ranked conference champions will be the top seeds and will receive a first-round bye, while teams seeded 5-through-12 will play each other in the first round on the home field of the higher-ranked team. Those matchups would be No. 12 at No. 5, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7 and No. 9 at No. 8.
The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in the New Year's Six bowl games, the national championship game will continue to be at a neutral site.
The SEC leads all conferences in CFP appearances as they've had at least one member make all 10. Missouri is also aiming for an SEC Championship next season, but even if it doesn't make that game, it'll still have a shot to qualify under the 5-7 format as there's no limit on conference participants.
