
The College Football Playoff committee has voted to go to a straight seeding model, where the selection committee’s top four teams would earn the top four seeds.
Brett McMurphy, citing sources, reports the top 4 seeds, according to the committee’s selection, will get first-round byes whether they won a conference title or not.
ESPN reports the 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, who comprise the CFP’s management committee, reached the unanimous agreement.
According to McMurphy, the conference champions will still get automatic bids to the CFP, but their seeding will be based on rank.
Last season, the four highest-ranked conference champions earned the top four seeds — regardless of where they were ranked. Now, Notre Dame, an independent, is eligible to earn a first-round bye.
The five highest-ranked conference champions will still be guaranteed spots in the 12-team field.
He also reported, per sources, 2025 will be the final year of 12-team playoff. The following year the CFP is expected to expand to 14 or 16 teams.