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College Football Playoff Sticks with 12-Team Format

1/23/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The College Football Playoff will keep a 12-team format in 2026, per sources.
The stalemate between Greg Sankey (SEC) and Tony Petitti (Big Ten) prevents expansion and keeps guaranteed spots for Power 4 conference champions and the highest-ranked Group of 6 champion.
Under these rules, Duke University (ACC champion) and the University of Notre Dame would have qualified, while the University of Miami would have been excluded.

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Story summary

The College Football Playoff will keep a 12-team format in 2026, per sources.
The stalemate between Greg Sankey (SEC) and Tony Petitti (Big Ten) prevents expansion and keeps guaranteed spots for Power 4 conference champions and the highest-ranked Group of 6 champion.
Under these rules, Duke University (ACC champion) and the University of Notre Dame would have qualified, while the University of Miami would have been excluded.