Report: ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12 Leaders Suggested Exploring 12-Team CFP Model

A 12-team College Football Playoff system is still a real possibility for the future. 

According to Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic, "commissioners within the Alliance—the ACC, the Big Ten and the Pac-12—suggested that the group explore an alternate 12-team playoff model that would guarantee access for each Power 5 conference champion" plus the "highest-ranked Group of 5 champion" during last week's CFP management committee meeting.

The original 12-team format proposal made in June would include automatic qualifiers for the six highest-ranked FBS conference winners, followed by six at-large bids. Auerbach noted that the Power 5 conferences (SEC, Big 10, Big-12, ACC and Pac-12) have been pushing for an 8-team playoff format that would guarantee five guaranteed bids for each Power 5 conference champions.

Some Power 5 leagues reportedly prefer the original 12-team model, since it opens a pathway for multiple teams in their league to potentially qualify for the CFP. Auerbach reported that the SEC and Notre Dame, in particular, prefer the 12-team model. 

The SEC reportedly wants either a 12-team format or to simply keep the four-team format in place. That's not a huge shock, considering that the SEC has had a representative in the current format every year of its existence, and two teams in 2018. 

The ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12's main priority, meanwhile, seems to be ensuring automatic berths for the champions in the Power 5 conferences. It's no surprise that the Pac-12, which hasn't had a team qualify for the CFP since 2016, would want an automatic berth. 

However, Auerbach reported the alternate 12-team proposal "has received criticism from those in the Group of 5 leagues who were extremely supportive of the original 12-team model."

The CFP management committee is comprised of the 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick.

Most fans seemingly want to see some level of expansion and more teams represented in the CFP. Either an 8- or 12-team format would be an improvement in that regard.