CFP director: No change in playoff format during 12-year contract

The CFP committee has been under fire since they released the final set of rankings in early December, with many critics claiming they did not pick the right teams for the playoff spots.

Lackluster bowl performances by No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 Washington certainly didn't do anything to quell those critics, and many are calling for an expansion of the playoffs to six or eight teams.

With a 12-year contract in place for a four-team system, CFP executive director Bill Hancock doesn't expect any changes to be made in the near future.

"The only thing that happens after six years is determining whether the Cotton, Fiesta, and Peach will remain in the rotation," Hancock told reporters, as per Zac Al-Khateeb of the Sporting News. "That has nothing to do with the format. The format is in place for the 12 years."

Hancock's main argument for keeping the four-team system is to continue placing value on the regular-season schedule.

"The disappointment that team No. 5 feels would be the same disappointment that team No. 9 feels," he said. "There wouldn't be any change in that. For me, it's about the regular season. Our regular season is so compelling, and I don't think our leadership would do anything to diminish the regular season."

One of the games Hancock referenced for keeping the integrity of the regular season was the epic Ohio State-Michigan double overtime contest on the final day of the schedule.

"What would Ohio State and Michigan have meant if there had been an eight-team tournament?" Hancock asked. "Both would've been in. It still would've been Ohio State and Michigan with all the tradition, but it wouldn't have meant the same. It wouldn't have meant near as much."