The Big Ten is circulating an document internally that details what a 24-team College Football Playoff would look like and features several major changes to the format, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who obtained the document.
The suggested format uses a 23+1 selection model and eliminates conference championship games. It also adds a weekend of on-campus CFP home games.
The document has been distributed to Big Ten athletic directors and head coaches, sources told Thamel.
Although the College Football Playoff is expected to expand in the near future, it’ll remain at 12 teams for the 2026 season. The SEC and Big Ten – the power conferences that are essentially in charge of CFP decision-making – are at a stalemate.
In recent discussions about a new format, the SEC agreed on a move to 16 teams. The Big Ten was only willing to accept that if there was also an agreement to eventually expand to 24 teams, Thamel notes.