Overview of the College Football Playoff Format for 2026-27

The College Football Playoff (CFP) is set to enter its third year with a 12-team format, introducing new qualification criteria for the 2026-27 season.

This year, four of the 12 playoff spots will be allocated to conference champions from the Power Four conferences: SEC, ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12. However, only the top four teams in the final CFP rankings will earn an automatic first-round bye.

Additionally, one spot will be designated for the highest-ranked team from the Group of Six conferences, which includes Conference USA, American, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12, and Sunbelt. The remaining teams will be selected based on their rankings in the final top-25 standings, with Notre Dame guaranteed an automatic bid if they finish in the top 12.