The College Football Playoff rankings landscape is about to change sharply. The College Football Playoff management committee announced on Monday that the playoff will expand to 24 teams next year, a move that changes how access works for the Power Four and Group of Six.
For teams in the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and ACC, the new format brings a different route into the field. It also removes conference championship games, which makes the new setup one of the biggest structural shifts the CFP has seen.
Dan Lanning: a sad but understandable change
Dan Lanning said the loss of conference championship games is "unique and sad in some respects," but he also accepted the logic behind the move. His point was straightforward: those games ask teams to play football when nobody else is, and that has effectively become a punishment in a crowded college football calendar.
That is a notable perspective from a coach who understands both the competitive and practical side of the sport. The new system may feel different, but it is being framed as a response to where college football is now rather than where it used to be.
What it means for the Ducks and the wider race
The Ducks are also part of the immediate conversation. Despite three losses, they are still described as having a 25-30% chance to reach the CFP this year, which underlines how the current system still leaves room for movement late in the season.
Oregon hosts Michigan on Saturday at 12 p.m., and that game now carries extra weight in a season where every result can shape both the present race and the conversation around next year’s expanded format.
There is also a longer-term roster note for the Ducks, with Teitum Tuioti out for the season in 2026. That is a separate issue from the playoff change, but it adds another layer to a program already dealing with the demands of a shifting national picture.
The bigger story, though, is the format itself. A 24-team CFP will create more access for Power Four and Group of Six teams, and the latest announcement ensures the debate over college football playoff rankings will only become more prominent as the sport moves toward the new era.
