If the playoffs expand to 24 teams, every conference would likely receive an automatic bid. Auto bids came to fruition when the field expanded to 12 teams in 2024, and doubling that number would create more than enough room to give all 11 conferences a path to the playoffs.
Although there were only 10 conferences in 2025, the Pac-12 is set to return in 2026, increasing the field to 11.
The current field only guarantees that the five highest-ranked conference champions make the field, including a Group of Five bid. That left unranked Duke, the 2025 ACC Championship Game winner, out of the field in favor of No. 24 James Madison last season.
If every conference had an automatic bid, like in college basketball, both Duke and James Madison would have been in. That would also have included Mountain West champion Boise State, MAC champion Western Michigan and Conference USA champion Kennesaw State.
Giving every league a bid would not guarantee any seeding. In fact, no conference champion would be granted a higher seed. Winning the conference championship game awards a bid, but seeding would be done separately once the field is set, much like March Madness.
The modern 12-team College Football Playoff format then awards at-large bids to the seven highest-ranked non-champions. An expanded 24-team field would increase that number to 13.
Creating such a rule opens the door for more upsets and postseason chaos. It could also finally force Notre Dame to join a conference to compete for a bid.
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