Woah! Another day, another hoopla in college football! Looks like the college football format has some issues with settling down. Back in 2014, the CFP introduced a four-team format. Then they thought of revamping the format a bit. Here came the expansion to 12 teams that college football will be following for the years 2024 and 2025.

It looks like we can’t be that sure about the format being followed in 2026. Already, the CFP committee has a lot on its plate. After all, they are now facing wrath for their flaws in the selection process. 

The ‘12-team CFP’ is about to get shaken up

Well, we knew a big change was imminent. But were we prepared for it to take place so soon? Definitely not! But when is college football any less of a surprise? It has happened before too. Whether you remember or not, prior to 2000, college football followed a four-team CP, with a two-team BCS. And look at it now. We are now enjoying the 12-team version and can’t even think of anything beyond it. But buckle up fans! It’s time for a big shake-up and it’s going to happen very soon. At least that’s what analyst Pete Thamel believes so. On the ESPN College Football podcast, Thamel came with a heads-up, “There’s just some counterintuitive things that I think will end up being tweaked.”

He then added to the intrigue, stating, “Will it be tweaked for next year? I don’t know and Heather would probably get a better sense of the process of all that because I do think there will be a little bit of we’re going to have major change in two years.” Now you must be feeling lost. That’s when national college football insider Heather Dinich might come to your help. She seemed to be walking on the same path as Thamel and did not ignore the possibility of the incoming revamp. 

Instead, Dinich stated, “Is it worth tweaking the system knowing that there is an automatic like we’re gonna go to 14 or 16 teams. I think that’s the general consensus as to where this thing is ultimately headed in 2026 and beyond.” So, the change now sounds more like a universal truth. But if you think that we have not heard from the Commissioners till now, as Dinich revealed, “The reality is these phone calls if they haven’t started already between the Commissioners are gon to start very soon.” However, right now, the CFP committee is too busy cleaning the mess. 

Analyst sheds light on the College Football Playoff committee’s flaws 

The real trouble started with Kalen DeBoer and Alabama getting a snub from the CFP committee. After all, they picked Rhett Lashlee’s SMU Mustangs even though they lost to the Clemson Tigers in the ACC Championship game. Well, we get how it is difficult for the College Football Playoff committee to consider every criterion. 

However, analysts and fans alike at times get too carried by their emotions. They even got angry at the fact that now the college football committee’s decision has been reduced to a joke, as analyst Dan Pretzel called it a “mock process.” After Wetzel, it was time for the famous critic and ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum to drop his expert commentary. He stated, “It’s a flawed system but we need to remember, everyone had to compromise.”

Finebaum further added, “It’s not the best system but I’m thrilled we have a 12-team system, and I hope and I’m pretty sure they’ll go in there and tweak it immediately.” But not to forget that the 12-team format also has some hits besides the lows. For instance, the opening round bye is a tangible reward for success. So, in case the College Football Playoff makes it into a 14 or 16-team format, they better take care of the reward system.