The ten FBS conferences and Notre Dame are anticipated to verify on Friday a 14-team School Soccer Playoff discipline and up to date income mannequin beginning in 2026, sources near the negotiations inform CBS Sports activities’ Dennis Dodd. Particulars on the 14-team CFP mannequin can be determined at a later time, however the settlement clears the best way for the CFP to conform to a contract extension with ESPN to broadcast the event.
The brand new income mannequin will considerably profit the Large Ten and SEC, launching them firmly forward of the Large 12 and ACC transferring ahead. The brand new contract can pay the Large Ten and SEC 29% of the upcoming contract, sources inform Dodd, which works out to roughly $22 million per faculty. The ACC will obtain 17% ($13-14 million per faculty) and the Large 12 will sit round 15% ($12 million per faculty). The numbers symbolize a increase throughout the board as all Energy 5 establishments obtain roughly $5 million per faculty within the earlier contract.
The ACC will obtain a barely larger payout within the subsequent contract because the league has produced eight CFP semifinalists to solely two within the persevering with Large 12, in response to ESPN. The proposed contract features a “look-in” clause that permits the CFP to regulate payouts in 2028 based mostly on efficiency, or if there’s one other spherical of realignment.
The Group of 5 will cut up 9% of the contract, however the quantity might not be cut up evenly among the many groups and 5 conferences. The unbiased colleges will cut up 1%, whereas Notre Dame will get the majority at round $12 million, in response to a number of studies.
Whereas urgent particulars across the format have but to be finalized, the 14-team playoff represents a departure from the 12-team discipline, which was agreed to for the ultimate two years of the earlier media rights contract. The CFP will maintain the primary 12-team playoff in 2024 because the preliminary tv rights deal is slated to run out after the 2025 School Soccer Playoff.
When discussions started, sources informed CBS Sports activities that the Large Ten and SEC would search to obtain as many as 4 computerized qualifiers every — eight whole — in an expanded playoff. Popping out of the primary School Soccer Playoff Administration Committee assembly, it appeared as if a “3-3-2-2-1” mannequin was gaining essentially the most traction; that may have the Large Ten and SEC receiving three AQs, the ACC and Large 12 getting two every and the Group of 5 being assured a playoff bid with three at-large spots remaining.
As a part of that mannequin, the Large Ten and SEC sought to be assured the one two byes within the bracket on an annual foundation with their respective convention champions instantly advancing to the second week of play.
Discussions pivoted after that proposed format led to a considerable outcry with equity being instantly known as into query.
