The Pac-12 has changed its conference championship game selection criteria, effective immediately for the 2022 season, the league announced Wednesday. Winners from the North and South divisions are no longer guaranteed to compete in the Pac-12 Championship Game; rather, the two teams with the highest conference winning percentage will qualify, regardless of division.
The new selection process follows the NCAA Division I Council’s vote to free conferences from division and championship game requirements. Now, conferences of any size are allowed to decide scheduling and conference title game structures independently. The Pac-12 will keep its existing division-based schedule for the 2022 season but will examine different models by 2023.
“Our goal is to place our two best teams in our Pac-12 Football Championship Game, which we believe will provide our conference with the best opportunity to optimize CFP invitations and ultimately win national championships,” said Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff in a statement. “Today’s decision is an important step towards that goal and immediately increases both fan interest in, and the media value of, our Football Championship Game.”