Upcoming Changes to College Football Playoff Format Revealed

In a stunning turn of events, the College Football Playoff (CFP) system is set for a significant overhaul next year. This all traces back to an agreement made about 18 months ago.

This season’s been wild, with non-power league programs like Tulane and James Madison making it to the playoffs. The upcoming changes promise to shake things up even more, with guaranteed spots for champions of major conferences and a special berth for Notre Dame if they crack the top 12.

Let’s dig into what all this means—and how people across college football are reacting.

Impact of Tulane and James Madison’s Playoff Berths

The inclusion of Tulane and James Madison in this year’s College Football Playoff has sparked a wave of excitement. Fans and alumni are buzzing, and you can feel the energy on campus and beyond.

Take Tulane, for example. Their playoff run has sent merchandise sales through the roof at Campus Connection, a New Orleans sports shop run by David Cariello. The Green Wave’s new motto, Roll Mother F****** Wave (RMFW), thanks to coach Jon Sumrall, has turned into a mini-phenomenon—nearly 3,000 orders for sweatshirts and T-shirts have rolled in.

Economic Boost for Non-Power Programs

This success isn’t just about pride—it’s also about dollars. Tulane’s donor contributions shot up by 373% from mid-November to mid-December compared to last year. That’s a real windfall for the program.

James Madison managed to sell out its entire allotment of 3,500 tickets for a cross-country game in Oregon. It just goes to show the financial potential that underdog teams can unlock in this expanded playoff setup.

Upcoming Changes to the College Football Playoff System

Next year’s CFP is going to look different. A memorandum of understanding signed in Spring 2024 will change how teams are picked.

The new format guarantees berths to the champions of the SEC, ACC, Big 12, and Big Ten. There’s also a spot for the highest-ranked non-power league conference champion. That’s a shift from the current approach, which doesn’t specify leagues quite so directly.

Guaranteed Spot for Notre Dame

Notre Dame is getting a unique deal here. If the Irish are ranked in the top 12, they get an automatic playoff berth.

This was hammered out by Notre Dame’s athletic director Pete Bevacqua, and it’s ruffled a few feathers. If Notre Dame, who was No. 11 this year, had gotten in under these rules, Miami would’ve been left out as the last at-large bid.

Reactions from the College Football Community

Not everyone’s thrilled about these changes. Power league athletic directors are openly questioning why Notre Dame gets this special treatment.

Meanwhile, leaders from non-power leagues like the Mountain West, American, C-USA, MAC, Pac-12, and Sun Belt are worried. The new rules could make it harder for them to secure two automatic playoff spots in the future.

Negotiation Dynamics and Power Struggles

The negotiations behind these changes were tense. The Big Ten and SEC, in particular, flexed their muscles, threatening to break off and create their own postseason unless they got a bigger share of CFP revenue and more control over the format.

Eventually, all 11 parties—the 10 FBS conferences and Notre Dame—signed three separate memorandum of understanding documents. These covered everything from playoff structure to how the money gets split up.

Future of the College Football Playoff

The current memorandum allows for a playoff format of up to 14 teams. But there are already whispers about expanding to 16 or more.

If that happens, some of these guarantees—especially Notre Dame’s—could be up for debate. It’s hard to say how this year’s playoff results will shape the next round of changes, but you can bet they’ll have an impact.

Performance of Non-Power Leagues

In the first year of the 12-team playoff era, programs outside the SEC and Big Ten have had a rough go, ending up 0-4. Still, the ACC, Big 12, and non-power leagues aren’t out of chances yet, with teams like Miami, James Madison, and Tulane still fighting this weekend.

Whatever happens, the new postseason structure has already brought some well-deserved attention—and benefits—to the underdog programs.

Conclusion

The College Football Playoff system is about to get a shakeup. Big changes are on the horizon, and honestly, it feels like about time.

Major conference champions and Notre Dame will get those guaranteed spots. That’s sure to stir up the competition—though, let’s be real, it might not please everyone.

Still, non-power league programs have shown this year that they can crash the party. Underdogs aren’t just for movie scripts; they’re out here making noise.

If you want a deeper dive into all the details and what could happen next, check out the full story on Yahoo Sports here.