On Tuesday, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti took the stage at the first day of the conference’s media days, where he firmly defended his proposed 16-team College Football Playoff format. This new format aims to allocate double the number of automatic berths to the Big Ten and SEC compared to other conferences. Petitti emphasized that a selection process primarily based on conference standings, rather than the current CFP rankings, would enhance objectivity and allow leagues to organize their own CFP play-in games the first weekend in December.
“The Big Ten has been consistent in its strong preference for a Playoff system that allocates spots based on conference standings and the results of playing games,” Petitti stated. “We want to better connect the regular season and the postseason,” he added, highlighting the importance of a seamless transition from regular-season play to the playoffs.
The FBS commissioners have been at a standstill for over a year regarding the size and format of the playoff, especially with the new contract with ESPN set to begin ahead of the 2026 season. This contract stipulates that any modifications to the existing 12-team format must be finalized by December 1. During the spring 2024 meetings of CFP leaders, the Big Ten introduced the “4-4-2-2-1” concept, which proposes four automatic qualifiers for both the Big Ten and SEC, two each for the ACC and Big 12, and one for the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion.
While Petitti had previously discussed this concept in an interview with Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt, his address during the media days marked the first public presentation of his pitch. Initially, it appeared that the Big Ten and SEC were aligned on this proposed format; however, recent comments from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey suggest otherwise. During his league’s media days last week, Sankey mentioned, “We had a different view coming out of (May’s SEC meetings) around the notion of allocations, if you will. … The Big Ten has a different view, that’s fine.”
The ACC and Big 12 have expressed their support for a “5+11” model, which includes the top five conference champions in addition to 11 at-large bids. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark remarked, “Why would I as a commissioner cap (the Big 12’s) participation? It makes no sense.” This divergence in opinions illustrates the ongoing challenges in reaching a consensus on the future of the playoff structure.
Petitti reiterated that the Big Ten and SEC “control changes to the CFP format and the selection committee process” moving forward, stating that any format ideas from conference colleagues or the CFP staff would be considered. However, he cautioned that “formats that increase the discretion and role of the CFP selection committee will have a difficult time getting support from the Big Ten.”
A significant aspect of Petitti’s pitch is the introduction of conference play-in games. In the Big Ten’s vision, the conference championship weekend would evolve from just the No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups to include games such as 3 vs. 6 and 4 vs. 5, with winners receiving automatic berths into the CFP. Petitti believes that this format will attract fans and increase engagement with the playoffs. For example, had this format been in place last year, the No. 6 seed would have been Iowa, which finished with a 6-3 conference record and an overall record of 8-4.
When a reporter suggested that there isn't significant support for a four-loss team in the playoffs, Petitti countered, “If you’re 6-3 in the Big Ten, I would argue that’s a great record, and if you stumbled in a nonconference game, I don’t know why that disqualifies you.” He continued, “8-4 as a winning percentage, if you project that winning percentage in every other sport, I’m pretty sure you make the postseason.” He highlighted that many professional sports teams qualify for playoffs without advancing past the first round, yet they still participate, emphasizing the importance of allowing competition to unfold on the field rather than in selection meetings.
The six Big Ten coaches who spoke at the media days expressed their support for Petitti’s proposed plan. Ohio State coach Ryan Day pointed out that Big Ten schools might be less inclined to schedule tough out-of-conference games without guaranteed automatic berths. He stated, “If we’re going to be in a situation where we get four automatic qualifiers, then I think it’d be great to have a 10th game against a Power 4 team. If we’re not going to do that, then I don’t think it makes sense.”
As discussions continue regarding the future of the College Football Playoff, Petitti’s push for a 16-team format that emphasizes conference standings and automatic berths could reshape the landscape of college football in the years to come.
