Disagreement over how to handle automatic qualifiers holding up CFP expansion
The College Football Playoff expansion has been a hot topic the last few years.
More and more fans and media have been wanting the format to expand to 8 or even 12 teams and those talks have continued with the CFP management committee.
The group met Wednesday to discuss expansion, but exited those talks without any resolution on the topic. Several key problems are holding up the discussion. Chief among them: how to handle the selection of teams.
Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson confirmed to the media that there’s still a difference of opinion on how to do automatic qualifiers.
MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson says there continues to be a difference of opinion on how to do AQs.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 1, 2021
He also touched on the fact that the 8-team playoff format is still alive and that the committee has started to trim down the list of formats.
Craig Thompson says an 8-team Playoff is still alive. CFP commissioners discussed several models but whittled down formats.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 1, 2021
After Thomspon spoke, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey was up next. He said he’s against 8 teams with automatic qualifiers for Power 5 champions.
Greg Sankey says he remains against 8 teams with AQs.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 1, 2021
Sankey has been against the 8 teams since the talks started over the summer so this shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. He also wishes that he could’ve made a decision, but knows talks are needed.
Greg Sankey: “I came here ready to make a decision but I understand more work is needed.”
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 1, 2021
This will continue to be a hot topic until an agreement is in place that all of the commissioners like.