In a Q&A posted to its website Sunday, the College Football Playoff confirmed the 4-team format will remain for the 2020-21 season.
The CFP management committee considered expanding the College Football Playoff this year and decided against it. The year 2020 has been one of uncertainty and change, but we are not changing the playoff format.
The committee also confirmed there is no minimum game requirement for a team to receive consideration for the 4-team field or a New Year's Six bid. Utah played its first game Saturday night, while Texas State played its 11th.
Most professional leagues expanded their playoffs to compensate for a shortened regular season. In addition to a much-needed infusion of cash, expanding the field would have created more opportunities for players in a season where opportunities are scarce.
The Playoff is not doing so because, in part, of logistics. "Expanding the playoff, in reality, makes it more difficult to complete a playoff," SEC commissioner Greg Sankey told the AP earlier this month.
While all that makes sense, how much fun would an 8-team format admitting all Power 5 champions, a Group of 5 representative and two at-large selections be?
Below is a sample bracket, based on current conference standings and AP poll rankings. Quarterfinals could be Dec. 26 at campus sites, semifinals remain on Jan. 1 and the title game Jan. 11.
(8) Iowa State at (1) Alabama
(5) Texas A&M at (4) Clemson
(7) Oregon at (2) Notre Dame
(6) Cincinnati at (3) Ohio State
The first set of CFP Top 25 rankings drop Tuesday night. In the meantime, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.