Skip to main content
Gamecock Digest

Changes Coming to the 12-Team College Football Playoff; How it Impacts South Carolina

The 12-team College Football Playoff will see changes coming in 2025. Will these changes affect the Gamecocks next season?
Alex Joyce|
Dec 30, 2022; Glendale AZ, USA; The College Football Playoff logo on the field at State Farm Stadium, the site of the 2022 CFP Semifinal between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Michigan Wolverines and Super Bowl 57 (LVII). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Dec 30, 2022; Glendale AZ, USA; The College Football Playoff logo on the field at State Farm Stadium, the site of the 2022 CFP Semifinal between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Michigan Wolverines and Super Bowl 57 (LVII). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The 12-Team College Football Playoff is set to move to a straight seeding model in 2025; which will reward the selection committees top four teams with a first round bye, per ESPN's Heather Dinich.

Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger reports that CFP executives met on Thursday to approve a change in how the 12 teams in the playoff format will be seeded in 2025. The executives voted "unanimously" to place team's based on the selection committees rankings, not conference winners.

In it's current format, the selection committee chose the 12 best teams for the playoff field. The top four conference champions are given the top four spots in the field with a first round bye. That is no longer the case. This changes only the 2025 season for now as the 2026 season is expected to see major changes to the playoff format with possible expansion incoming.

How will this affect the South Carolina Gamecocks? Should the Gamecocks find themselves ranked in the top 12 by season's end, winning a potential conference title wouldn't guarantee them a bye in the first round. South Carolina could win the SEC and still find themselves playing round one at home or possibly on the road.

On the flip side, South Carolina could possibly lose the SEC Championship game and, based on their record, could still be awarded with a first round bye. It will all be up to how the committee ranks the top four slots of the field.

Coming off a 9 win season, expectations are high in Columbia. On the outside looking in last season, South Carolina has an opportunity to break through in 2025.

Join the community:

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to follow us on X at @GamecocksDigest and on Facebook!

You Might Also Like:

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations

Published
Alex Joyce
ALEX JOYCE

Alex Joyce is a graduate from the University of Georgia with a degree in Journalism. Alex began his career in television as a news and sports reporter. During his career, Alex has been able to cover everything from breaking news to the game’s brightest moments. His passion for journalism drives him to deliver compelling stories and to connect with his audiences.

Share on XFollow AlexJoyceSI