TCU's Sonny Dykes Rips 'Preposterous' Big 10, SEC Auto Byes in CFP Proposal

It's safe to say that TCU head coach Sonny Dykes isn't a fan of the 14-team College Football Playoff structure that was recently proposed.

"Automatic first-round byes for the Big Ten and SEC is like the NFL saying the Cowboys get a first-round bye since they have more fans than the Bengals," Dykes said, per ESPN's Dave Wilson. "How preposterous is that?"

With two first-round byes available in a 14-team format, the winners of the SEC and Big Ten would automatically earn those spots under the proposal.

According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, the format featuring guaranteed byes for the SEC and Big Ten champions has not been finalized and there will be more exploratory work on the format.

The remaining 12 teams would be made up of two other automatic qualifiers for the SEC and Big Ten, as well as two automatic qualifiers for the ACC and Big 12 each along with the Group of Five's best team qualifying. Three more spots would be available for the highest-ranked teams that didn't automatically qualify.

Dykes isn't the only coach to take issue with the proposal, as Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy called the format "unheard of."

"A playoff format that guarantees a first-round bye to any team, division or conference before the season starts is unheard of in any sport as far as I'm aware," Gundy said, per Wilson. "Based on the premise proposed, a team could be undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country and still not receive a first-round bye because teams were awarded one before the season even began."

It's clear to see why Dykes would have a problem, as his Horned Frogs beat Michigan in a 2022 Playoff semifinal game despite losing to Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship game. The Wolverines won the Big Ten before the loss to TCU. The two programs would not have met in the first round under the 14-team proposal, with Michigan earning a bye.

The College Football Playoff will already be expanding to 12 teams in 2024, with the four highest-ranked conference champions receiving a bye.