The NCAA is exploring a dramatic shift that would double the College Football Playoff from 12 to 24 teams, a move that could reshape the postseason landscape and alter the pathway for programs outside the Power Five.
Under the current structure, only one Group of Six conference champion is guaranteed a spot in the 12‑team field, a safety net that has allowed teams such as Tulane and James Madison to break through in the 2025 edition.
The Road Ahead for Mid‑Major Programs
Historically, the Group of Six has been allocated two to four slots in the final CFP rankings, but the selection committee’s early deliberations often omitted them before they re‑emerged in the final list, as seen when three such teams appeared in the 2025 rankings.
Potential contenders from this tier include Memphis, UNLV and Boise State, each of which has shown the ability to compete with traditional powerhouses, yet the prospect of expanding to 24 teams does not automatically translate into more access, given the entrenched autobids for Power Five conferences and the looming threat of a breakaway league.
Some analysts have floated the idea of a separate playoff for the Group of Six, but the reality is that any expansion will likely be shaped by the same power dynamics that have limited opportunities for mid‑major programs thus far.