Although the four top-ranked conference champions will no longer receive a bye, the new rule will ensure a spot in the playoffs for the top five. Based on the CFP Selection Committee’s final ranking, the 12-team bracket will now be seeded directly, with the top four teams earning a first-round bye. According to the number of conference champions outside the top 12, if one or more of the top five are ranked outside of the top 12, that team or teams would advance to the 12th seed, 11th seed, etc.
Rich Clark, executive director of the College Football Playoff, stated, “The CFP Management Committee felt it was in the best interest of the game to make this adjustment after evaluating the first year of the 12-team Playoff.” “This change will continue to allow guaranteed access to the Playoff by rewarding teams for winning their conference championship, but it will also allow us to construct a postseason bracket that recognizes the best performance on the field during the entire regular season.”
All other operational policies will remain the same for the 2025-26 season:
- The ranking of the teams will continue to be done by a selection committee.
- Teams that ranked Nos. 5-12 will play in the CFP First Round with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds either on campus or at other sites designated by the higher-seeded institution (No. 12 at No. 5, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7 and No. 9 at No. 8.).
- Four highest-ranked teams will be assigned to Playoff Quarterfinals bowls on Selection Day in ranking order and in consideration of current contract bowl relationships (for example: if the highest-ranked team is from the Big Ten, that team would be assigned to the Rose Bowl Game).
- No. 1 seed would receive preferential placement based on geography for the Playoff Semifinal site assignment.
A tripleheader of Playoff Quarterfinal games—the Capital One Orange Bowl, the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl—will take place on New Year’s Day after the Playoff Quarterfinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Wednesday, December 31, as was announced in April. The winners of those games will go on to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Playoff Semifinal on Friday, January 9, and the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Playoff Semifinal on Thursday, January 8. Hard Rock Stadium will host the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, January 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Later this year, further information will be released, including the dates and times of the Playoff First Round.