CFP unanimously approves 5+7 mannequin for brand new 12-team playoff

The Faculty Soccer Playoff board of managers unanimously authorized a mannequin that can assure the 5 highest-ranked convention champions’ inclusion within the expanded 12-team subject this fall, together with the subsequent seven highest-ranked groups, the CFP introduced Tuesday.

After months of delay on the behest of the dwindling Pac-12, the choice was made Tuesday morning in a digital assembly of the ten FBS commissioners and the Notre Dame president, the Rev. John Jenkins. The vote needed to be unanimous for the 5+7 format to be authorized, and the Pac-12 had both beforehand abstained or requested for a delay because it labored on figuring out its future following sweeping convention realignment.

Washington State president Kirk Schulz, who represents the Pac-12 on the board, advised ESPN final week he would discuss with Oregon State president Jayathi Y. Murthy and “be able to vote” on Tuesday. Neither college can qualify for an computerized bid as a convention champion in every of the subsequent two seasons, so Schulz conceded the seven at-large bids can be extra useful to them than the unique proposal of six convention champions and 6 at-large groups. That format was proposed earlier than the Pac-12 misplaced USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon to the Huge Ten, Cal and Stanford to the ACC, and Utah, Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado to the Huge 12.

The Pac-12 and Mountain West have agreed to a short lived scheduling partnership by which Oregon State and Washington State will play at the least six MWC opponents in 2024.

“For our two colleges within the Pac-12 because it’s at the moment configured, there isn’t any query that five-seven, with seven at-larges, is healthier than six at-larges,” Schulz advised ESPN. “… There is no query our soccer coaches are going to need to compete for a kind of seven slots, and 7 goes to be higher than six.”

In most years, the 5+7 format will guarantee the convention champions from the SEC, Huge Ten, Huge 12 and ACC a spot within the playoff, together with the highest-ranked Group of 5 convention champion. The CFP deliberately will not consult with the “Group of 5” in its description of the format, although, as a result of there’s a probability {that a} champion from one of many Energy 4 conferences finishes ranked beneath the highest champion from the American Athletic Convention, C-USA, Mountain West, Solar Belt or Mid-American Convention.

In 2021, for instance, when undefeated No. 4 Cincinnati was the American Athletic Convention champion, ACC champion Pitt completed at No. 12 with two losses. Within the 12-team format, the 4 highest-ranked convention champions will obtain a first-round bye.

Tuesday’s assembly was additionally a possibility for Washington State and Oregon State to request continued Energy 5 income and voting rights within the new CFP contract. For the subsequent two years, the rest of the CFP’s present 12-year contract, Washington State and Oregon State will every proceed to obtain the total Energy 5 income distribution, which is $5 million to $6 million per college. They’re asking to proceed to obtain that quantity within the subsequent CFP contract, not understanding what their convention affiliation can be.

In response to the Pac-12’s proposal, which Schulz shared with ESPN, Oregon State and Washington State are asking for “a distribution share and voting rights equal to the bottom per college professional rata share of the ACC, Huge 10, Huge 12, or SEC convention’s distribution, no matter how these 4 conferences really distribute CFP distributions to their members.”

“We had been in a sport of musical chairs and the music stopped and we had two colleges standing,” Schulz stated. “We have invested and been thought of autonomy 5 college and convention for many years. We simply do not suppose that due to the musical chairs that the 2 remaining colleges within the Pac-12 needs to be penalized.”

Mississippi State president Mark Keenum, the chair of the CFP board, advised ESPN final week not one of the conferences know but what the income distribution can be within the subsequent contract.

“None of us do,” he stated. “There’s a variety of work that is going to should entail on behalf of our commissioners and others to deliver some suggestions to the board. They are not there. We’re not there. I hear what he is saying, however I do not know you commit to a college.”

The CFP’s administration committee, which includes the ten FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, are assembly in Dallas on Wednesday to proceed engaged on the implementation of the 12-team playoff for this fall, together with weighty selections about the way forward for the game’s postseason within the subsequent contract. The highest precedence, based on a number of sources, is coming to an settlement on a brand new TV deal, however they may also proceed to speak about entry and income distribution.

One change they’re near agreeing on, based on a number of sources, is eliminating the contracts the New Yr’s Six bowls have with respective conferences within the new contract. The Sugar Bowl has a historic settlement with the SEC and Huge 12, whereas the Rose Bowl has lengthy been contractually tied to the Huge Ten and Pac-12, and the Orange Bowl with the ACC, Huge Ten and Notre Dame.

Whereas these agreements are anticipated to stay for this season and subsequent, there’s a need amongst CFP leaders to have extra flexibility in the place groups are positioned shifting ahead — i.e., permitting Georgia to play within the Peach Bowl as a substitute of the Sugar one yr if it makes extra sense.

“We have loved a protracted relationship with the SEC and to a shorter extent additionally with the Huge 12,” Allstate Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley advised ESPN on Tuesday. “It has been a fantastic partnership for the previous 10 years, and whereas it is unlucky if that’s to go away, we perceive the world round us is altering. The Sugar Bowl’s place from the outset — as soon as the expanded playoff turned a dialogue — we have now pledged to our companions and the remainder of the conferences that we’re going be a assist and never a hindrance within the course of. We intention to stay by that.”