College Football Playoff negotiations move to more at-large teams amid outcry over Big Ten, SEC automatic byes

The Big Ten and SEC had asked to be guaranteed first-round byes under an expanded 14-team format

By Dennis Dodd Mar 9, 2024 at 3:44 pm ET• 2 min read

Negotiations over a 14-team College Football Playoff format, which would begin in the 2026 season, are trending to featuring more at-large teams amid backlash to bidding from the Big Ten and SEC that would have afforded the conferences a sizable portion of the field and automatic first-round byes each year, sources familiar with the negotiations told CBS Sports.

When discussions began two weeks ago, sources told CBS Sports that the Big Ten and SEC would seek to receive as many as four automatic qualifiers each -- eight total -- in an expanded playoff. Coming out of the first College Football Playoff Management Committee meeting, it seemed as if a "3-3-2-2-1" model was gaining the most traction; that would have the Big Ten and SEC receiving three AQs, the ACC and Big 12 getting two each and the Group of Five being guaranteed a playoff bid with three at-large spots remaining.

As part of that model, the Big Ten and SEC sought to be guaranteed the only two byes in the bracket on an annual basis with their respective conference champions immediately advancing to the second week of play.

Discussions have pivoted since that proposed format led to a substantial outcry with fairness being immediately called into question.