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The 12-team College Football Playoff evolved before it ever debuted.

The expanded playoff that's set to launch this season originally had been devised as a 6+6 format. That is, automatic bids for the six-best conference champions, plus six at-large bids.

But, after that format got approved, realignment crippled the Pac-12.

So, on Tuesday, the CFP Board of Managers voted to change the playoff to a 5+7 format – automatic bids for the five-best conference champions, plus seven at-large bids. The CFP contract lasts another two seasons. For 2026 and beyond, no approved playoff format exists.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams react to this modified 12-team playoff format and speculate as to what might be in store for the playoff beginning with the '26 season.

This much seems likely: SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey will have an influential voice in shaping the playoff's future, just as he swung a big stick in determining this 12-team playoff format.

 Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

The <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2024/02/20/college-football-playoff-2024-five-conference-champions/72670606007/" aria-label="Link 12-team College Football Playoff evolved">12-team College Football Playoff evolved</a> before it ever debuted.
The expanded playoff that's set to launch this season originally had been devised as a 6+6 format. That is, automatic bids for the six-best conference champions, plus six at-large bids.
But, <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/SEC/2023/08/08/conference-realignment-college-football-playoff-2023-pac-12-big-ten-sec/70555200007/" aria-label="Link after that format got approved, realignment crippled the Pac-12">after that format got approved, realignment crippled the Pac-12</a>.
So, on Tuesday, the CFP Board of Managers voted to change the playoff to a 5+7 format – automatic bids for the five-best conference champions, plus seven at-large bids. The CFP contract lasts another two seasons. For 2026 and beyond, no approved playoff format exists.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> react to this modified 12-team playoff format and speculate as to what might be in store for the playoff beginning with the '26 season.
This much seems likely: SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey will have an influential voice in shaping the playoff's future, just as he swung a big stick in determining this 12-team playoff format.
 Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

SEC Football Unfiltered features hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams of the USA TODAY Network serving opinion, debate and analysis on trending college football topics within the Southeastern Conference. No subject is off limits, and no one is above rebuke. Take off the filter and revel in the banter.

SEC Football Unfiltered features hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams of the USA TODAY Network serving opinion, debate and analysis on trending college football topics within the Southeastern Conference. No subject is off limits, and no one is above rebuke. Take off the filter and revel in the banter.

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