The College Football Playoff’s working group is expected to release a recommendation for an expanded playoff format Thursday, a source confirmed to The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach.
The CFP’s four-person group — which consists of SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick — is expected to recommend a 12-team playoff, according to sources.
The 12-team format would include the six highest-ranked conference champions and six at-large spots.
Support for the 12-team format had been building since April, one Power 5 AD told The Athletic’s Andy Staples and Stewart Mandel. The working group had also been considering six-, eight-, 10- and and 16-team formats.
Consideration for an expansion began growing after playoff organizers became concerned that the same four teams were dominating every year.
Of the 28 available spots in the Playoff since 2014, Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State and Oklahoma have filled 20.
This is a developing story. More to come.
