Goodbye, conference championship games. CFP expansion will end a college football tradition
New York Times
Last updated: November 10, 2026
The advent of College Football Playoff (CFP) expansion is set to discontinue the tradition of conference championship games. These games, though relatively recent in the sport's history, became a significant and anticipated event for fans and teams alike. Their elimination marks a notable shift in the college football landscape.
- The expansion of the College Football Playoff, from 4 to 12 teams, necessitates changes to the existing postseason structure. A primary consequence is the cessation of conference championship games, a tradition that has been a staple of college football for several decades. These championship games, which determine conference winners, were often high-stakes matchups that played a crucial role in the selection process for the national championship. Their removal means teams will no longer have this dedicated opportunity to earn an automatic bid or boost their resume through a conference title. The CFP committee will now rely solely on regular-season performance and potentially fewer bowl game implications to determine playoff participants. This alteration is expected to reshape team strategies and fan engagement throughout the regular season, as the focus shifts entirely to securing a spot in the expanded 12-team playoff.
