OSU Football HC Mike Gundy Talks About Proposed 14-Team Playoff Format
The world of college football is rapidly growing, and the College Football Playoffs could see another expansion before the 12-team format is even put into action. The committee is exploring a potential 14-team playoff format, which would be put into action during the 2026 season.
The new proposed format would allow the two major conferences -- the Big Ten and SEC -- would each have three automatic bids, with the ACC and Big 12, which impacts Oklahoma State, each getting two automatic bids. The Group of Five will get one automatic representative, leaving three at-large bids to be had by the next highest-ranked teams.
The biggest takeaway from the national college football landscape is Notre Dame, the biggest independent program, not being in a Power Conference to help them easily earn a bid.
For Oklahoma State, they can easily find their way into the playoffs. For example, this past season, they lost in the Big 12 Championship, meaning they would have gotten the second Big 12 bid. They've made the championship in two of the last three seasons, which would have seen them in two playoffs in that span.
Still, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy isn't a fan of the new proposed playoff format.
“A playoff format that guarantees a first-round bye to any team, division or conference before the season starts is unheard of in any sport as far as I’m aware,” Gundy told ESPN. “Based on the premise proposed, a team could be undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country and still not receive a first-round bye because teams were awarded one before the season even began.”
In the proposed new format, the SEC and Big Ten conference champions would earn a first-round bye. It's understandable for the ACC and Big 12, both Power Four conferences, to each be mad for the other two power conferences to get first-round byes ahead of them.
For example, if the conference champion in the Big 12 or ACC is higher ranked than the champion in the other two conferences, why shouldn't they earn a bye in the first round?
“We need to let the teams decide it on the field and reward those who are most deserving,” Gundy said.
All of the changes in college football are new and fresh, and the new formats need to be put into action before any change can be made, even though it feels as if some of the flaws are obvious.
READ MORE: Significant Changes to College Football Coming in 2024
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