Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

Group of 5 conference slams Pac-12 for requesting automatic berth into expanded playoff

Spenser Davis

By Spenser Davis

Published:

While the College Football Playoff is almost certainly headed for expansion in the near future, the specifics are still being decided.

Under the current proposal, the top six-ranked conference champions would receive an automatic berth into a 12-team playoff. The remaining six teams would be determined by the College Football Playoff selection committee.

However, the Pac-12 released a statement on Friday arguing for automatic berths for Power 5 champions.

That didn’t go over well with at least one Group of 5 conference — the Sun Belt.

Here’s the full statement from Sun Belt commissioner Keith Gill:

“The Sun Belt Conference supports College Football Playoff expansion, including the working group’s recommendation to have the six highest-ranked conference champions in the field. Playoff spots should be earned and not given. Under the proposed system, if you are a deserving team, you should have no concerns of being left out of the Playoff. I look forward to continuing the conversation next week with the CFP Board of Managers.”

It’s hard to argue with that sentiment. In most years, the champions of the Power 5 conferences will be ranked highly enough to earn one of those automatic berths.

More details about College Football Playoff expansion are expected later this summer and fall.

Spenser Davis

Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.