Big Ten lays out 24-team CFP idea with no conference title games

The Big Ten is circulating an document internally that details what a 24-team College Football Playoff would look like and features several major changes to the format, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel, who obtained the document.

The suggested format uses a 23+1 selection model and eliminates conference championship games. It also adds a weekend of on-campus CFP home games.

The document has been distributed to Big Ten athletic directors and head coaches, sources told Thamel.

Although the College Football Playoff is expected to expand in the near future, it'll remain at 12 teams for the 2026 season. The SEC and Big Ten - the power conferences that are essentially in charge of CFP decision-making - are at a stalemate.

In recent discussions about a new format, the SEC agreed on a move to 16 teams. The Big Ten was only willing to accept that if there was also an agreement to eventually expand to 24 teams, Thamel notes.

"In today's transfer portal/player movement era, teams may lose a game or two early and gel together later in the season - more playoff opportunities late provide an appropriate safety net," the Big Ten document says.

The document also states that the conference is eyeing a CFP move to 16 teams in 2027 and '28 before expanding to a 24-team field "no later than the 2029 season."

The 24-team format would include the nation's top 23 teams with no automatic qualifiers in addition to one spot for the Group of 6. The eight best teams would receive a playoff bye.