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They did a great article that covered the things that will be the most important to get done, and or changed, before the 2026 season.
Background:
- 2024 and 2025 are being conducted under the old contract where ESPN owns all rights, and the bowls had contracts that allowed them to kibosh the 12-team concept if they wanted to.
- You all know how it goes - top 6 conference champs get in, top 4 get byes, 5-12 play each other at the home fields of 5-8 for the first round, the 3rd Saturday-ish of December. Second round, quarters, are played in 4 of the NY6 bowls on or around January 1. Semis are played at the other 2 of the NY6 bowls, on or around January 8. NC at a negotiated site, on or around January 21.
What has been happening:
Scheduling - serious discussions about the season starting Week 0, which is the week before Labor Day. That means that Rivalry week is the week before Thanksgiving, Conf Champ games are Thanksgiving weekend. Round 1 would be played the second week of December, instead of the 3rd week of December, which lets them dodge the NFL Saturday games that start on the third Saturday of November.
Media Partners - no doubt they will get ESPN and FOX, perhaps others involved. Hard to think it would be anyone other than those in that they cover almost all CFB. But we will see multiple media showing the games which will drive up the $$$.
Revenue Distribution - this is a big issue and one that the SEC and B1G will be weigh in on heavily. Right now the P5 shares equally BY conference, regardless of whether they get teams in or not. So the PAC, which hasn't had a team in for eight years or so, gets the same share as the SEC and B1G. The feeling is that won't survive, and it will be more along the lines of March Madness, where payouts are made based on the number of teams that get in and how far they advance. Of all the issues, this is the one that for will change. The SEC and the B1G just have too much influence for it to be otherwise.
Quarterfinal Location - there seems to be a growing desire to have the quarterfinals on campus, January 1-ish. One reason is the cost to fanbases to travel up to 4 times in a short period of time. In another thread, I mentioned my LA CFP game trip next week will run me $7500 for two of us. I chose to skip the SECCG and the Peach Bowl even though I could drive there, and had a place to stay with friends. With tickets, food, booze, etc., we are still talking another $5K for those 2 games. Not happening, even if I could afford it. Second reason is that the top 4 who get byes are thinking they are getting screwed and not getting rewarded with a home game. Thirdly, bowls are losing their influence, and I suspect the SEC and others are pissed at the Rose Bowl that were part of the group that cost them hundreds of millions by holding going to 12 earlier. I think enough people are ready to tell the Bowls to go fuck themselves and that in 2026 they will get the semi-finals, if anything.
If I had to guess based on this and other reading I have done, the new 2026 contract:
- will be for about 8 years (not 12 like the previous one - thanks B1G for pushing for shorter media contracts)
- Week 0 will be the start of CFB, with the schedule set out like above.
- 1st and 2nd round on campus.
- Money split based on merits - no. of teams and how far they go.
- Games on ESPN and Fox.
A lot to like there.
theathletic.com
Background:
- 2024 and 2025 are being conducted under the old contract where ESPN owns all rights, and the bowls had contracts that allowed them to kibosh the 12-team concept if they wanted to.
- You all know how it goes - top 6 conference champs get in, top 4 get byes, 5-12 play each other at the home fields of 5-8 for the first round, the 3rd Saturday-ish of December. Second round, quarters, are played in 4 of the NY6 bowls on or around January 1. Semis are played at the other 2 of the NY6 bowls, on or around January 8. NC at a negotiated site, on or around January 21.
What has been happening:
Scheduling - serious discussions about the season starting Week 0, which is the week before Labor Day. That means that Rivalry week is the week before Thanksgiving, Conf Champ games are Thanksgiving weekend. Round 1 would be played the second week of December, instead of the 3rd week of December, which lets them dodge the NFL Saturday games that start on the third Saturday of November.
Media Partners - no doubt they will get ESPN and FOX, perhaps others involved. Hard to think it would be anyone other than those in that they cover almost all CFB. But we will see multiple media showing the games which will drive up the $$$.
Revenue Distribution - this is a big issue and one that the SEC and B1G will be weigh in on heavily. Right now the P5 shares equally BY conference, regardless of whether they get teams in or not. So the PAC, which hasn't had a team in for eight years or so, gets the same share as the SEC and B1G. The feeling is that won't survive, and it will be more along the lines of March Madness, where payouts are made based on the number of teams that get in and how far they advance. Of all the issues, this is the one that for will change. The SEC and the B1G just have too much influence for it to be otherwise.
Quarterfinal Location - there seems to be a growing desire to have the quarterfinals on campus, January 1-ish. One reason is the cost to fanbases to travel up to 4 times in a short period of time. In another thread, I mentioned my LA CFP game trip next week will run me $7500 for two of us. I chose to skip the SECCG and the Peach Bowl even though I could drive there, and had a place to stay with friends. With tickets, food, booze, etc., we are still talking another $5K for those 2 games. Not happening, even if I could afford it. Second reason is that the top 4 who get byes are thinking they are getting screwed and not getting rewarded with a home game. Thirdly, bowls are losing their influence, and I suspect the SEC and others are pissed at the Rose Bowl that were part of the group that cost them hundreds of millions by holding going to 12 earlier. I think enough people are ready to tell the Bowls to go fuck themselves and that in 2026 they will get the semi-finals, if anything.
If I had to guess based on this and other reading I have done, the new 2026 contract:
- will be for about 8 years (not 12 like the previous one - thanks B1G for pushing for shorter media contracts)
- Week 0 will be the start of CFB, with the schedule set out like above.
- 1st and 2nd round on campus.
- Money split based on merits - no. of teams and how far they go.
- Games on ESPN and Fox.
A lot to like there.
The 12-team Playoff's many issues to be settled for 2026 and beyond
Some of the agreed-upon CFP compromises are essentially just for two seasons. Everyone involved knows bigger battles are coming,
theathletic.com
