Boise State AD Rips CFP Bracket Format After Rule Change to Straight Seeding

Even though the College Football Playoff management committee's decision to move to a straight-seeding format makes logical sense, that doesn't mean everyone in the sport is happy about it.

Boise State athletic director Jeramiah Dickey called out the committee for what he believes is a policy against his program and was created to keep small schools down.

In the first year of the 12-team playoff format last season, the four highest-ranked conference champions were given the top four seeds and an automatic bye into the quarterfinals regardless of where they were at in the actual rankings.

Boise State benefited from the conference-champion rule. The Broncos finished ninth in the final rankings, but got bumped up six spots to the No. 3 seed. Oregon (Big Ten) and Georgia (SEC) were the only conference champions ranked ahead of them.

It's worth pointing out that Boise State wasn't the lowest-ranked conference champion to receive a bye. Arizona State received the No. 4 seed as the Big 12 champion, despite being ranked 12th overall in the final standings.

Money could also be another reason that Dickey is upset about the change. Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger noted the four highest-ranked conference champions in the playoff receive an automatic $8 million payout ($4 million for making the field and $4 million for reaching the quarterfinal.

According to Dellenger, the payout structure may not last after the upcoming season because 2026 will include "a new revenue-distribution model that was established last spring where conferences earn a base amount in a system without performance payments."

It can certainly be argued that the bigger conferences, particularly the Big Ten and SEC, are using their power and influence to set up the playoff so it is more financially beneficial toward their programs.

Pennysylvania Congressman Brendan Doyle even mentioned those two conferences trying to tilt the playoff in their favor in a post on X earlier this month.

Dellenger reported on May 14 that discussions involving leaders from the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and ACC about a 16-team playoff format have been met with some resistance because one proposal from the Big Ten and SEC would award their conferences four automatic bids each compared to two each for the Big 12 and ACC.

Those discussions didn't even involve leaders from mid-major conferences or programs, like Boise State.

If the straight-seeding format had been in place last season, Boise State would have hosted Indiana at Albertsons Stadium in the first round. The winner of that game would have advanced to play No. 1 Oregon in the quarterfinal.

Instead, Boise State wound up taking on Penn State in the quarterfinal. The Nittany Lions won the game 31-14 to advance to the semifinal.