Last year’s college football playoffs caused a lot of controversy. Undefeated Florida State and the reigning back-to-back champion Georgia were left out of the playoffs by the selection committee in favor of 12-1 Alabama. With Alabama’s loss to Michigan in the college football semi-finals, the debate grew even larger. With the current four team picture, many teams have been snubbed through the years such as TCU and Baylor being left out in favor of Ohio State in 2014 or Penn State getting left out for Ohio State in 2016. The twelve-team playoffs aim to end the annual selection problems the four team playoff has had issues dealing with.
On the second of September 2022, the College Football Board of Managers elected to widen the playoffs to include 12 teams. The main purpose of this decision was to increase the amount of competitors in the playoffs and to avoid controversy which was an annual issue for the 4 team playoff. The new structure would also give teams with 1-2 losses a reason to keep fighting for each game as they will still have a shot at making the playoffs. This new structure will be implemented in the 24-25 season.
The selection of the teams that will play in the playoffs will be slightly different than it is currently. The top six conference winners will automatically be selected for the playoffs. Of these, the top four overall teams will gain a bye to the quarterfinals. The other six slots will be filled up with the highest ranking teams that are not conference champions. Games will then be played in four different knockout rounds.
The venues hosting the games will also be a little different. In the first round, the higher seeded teams will get the honor (and advantage) of hosting the games. Bowl games will start in the quarter finals and the semifinals will also be played in bowls. These bowls will rotate each season. The finals will continue to be held in a neutral venue.
Many people have already voiced their support for this new system. More teams, more games to watch, more quality competitions.
“This new structure is great,” said senior Jack Raclaw. “It is going to make college football more exciting.”
“The new [college football playoff] structure makes college football more entertaining since teams will be able to make the playoffs with one or even two losses,” said sophomore Aleks Paskiewicz.
The goal of the twelve team bracket is to give teams and players a better shot at the National Championship and to give fans more excitement and suspense. The twelve team playoffs will be home to some of the most ecstatic moments in the entire world of athletics and will create new legacies and dynasties.