FRISCO, Texas — There’s been much debate about expanding the College Football Playoff and what format the sport should use whenever the field is eventually expanded to 16 teams.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark doubled down on his support of the 5+11 College Football Playoff format during his opening address on the first day of Big 12 Football Media Days Tuesday at the Star in Frisco.
“We continue to believe the 5+11 model is the right playoff format proposed by the Big 12 and ACC is the right playoff format for college football,†Yormark said. “We want to earn it on the field. We do not need a professional model. We are not the NFL. We are college football and we must act like it.â€
Reports suggested that the Big Ten and SEC, the two perceived strongest conferences, wanted a model in which each league would receive four automatic bids, while the Big 12 and ACC would receive two.
People are also reading…
While being guaranteed to get two teams in the field every year was enticing, Yormark and the rest of the conference athletic directors were against a model that limited the impact of on the field results.
“5+11 is fair, we want to earn it on the field, it might not be the best solution today for the Big 12,†Yormark said. “But long term, knowing the progress we’re making, the invest we’re making, it’s the right format for us and I’m doubling down today on 5+11.â€
While also not wanting to concede that the Big 12 was a lesser league than the Big Ten and SEC, Yormark also believes the new revenue sharing will allow the Big 12 to close the gap.
There have already been early signs of the league benefiting with teams like Texas Tech landing a top-rated transfer class and contending for five-star recruits. It would be short-sighted to commit to a format that may not fit in a few seasons.
“That (House) settlement should create a level playing field, if enforcement works, and it will,†Yormark said. “I’m not giving that up, 5+11 is good for now and the future. That’s how I feel and that’s how (ACC commissioner) Jim Phillips feels. Why would I set the market place (for the next playoff format) right now for six years? I would never do that.â€
As for this season, Yormark believes the Big 12 is in prime position to get multiple teams in the playoff field for the first time thanks in large part to the amount of returning quarterbacks like TCU’s Josh Hoover and Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt.
“This year our star power, especially at quarterback, will be on full display,†Yormark said. “The Big 12 returns nine starting quarterbacks that threw for over 2,400 yards last season. The rest of the Power Four combined has just nine. I fully expect the Big 12 to earn multiple College Football Playoff bids this season and to show once again that we can compete with anyone.â€
