Do you know what it means to play in the college football playoffs nowadays? Well, you’ll know soon. And it’s more like hitting a jackpot for college football teams. Believe it or not, it’s not only about winning the glory and the trophy; there’s cold, harsh cash on the line! Biologically, with the expanded 12-team format, more teams are getting a shot at winning the title, but they’re also getting a chance to rake in big bucks.

First and foremost, do the teams get anything for winning their conferences? Well, the answer is no. Surprisingly, the programs that win the national championship also do not receive any prize money. However, here’s the catch: when a team makes it to the playoffs, the conference gets $4 million per team. That’s just for showing up. But if these teams crack the first round and into the quarterfinals, that’s another $4 million for your conference.

Keep reaching the sky, and if that team makes it to the semis or the championship game, then the conference gets $6 million per team. Not too shabby, right? Oh, and don’t forget—if your team’s on point academically and meets the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) standards, its conference will benefit more and get another $300,000. So, yeah, things are pretty clear here; it’s the conference that makes this kind of money and not the teams.

Now, here’s where things get spicy. The top four teams get a free pass into the quarterfinals, which means the byes, so their conferences are already taking home at least $8 million. The teams ranked a little lower? They’ll have to fight their way through the first round, which means there’s more drama, more risk, but also more potential cash. If the current CFP rankings hold, the SEC and Big Ten are about to get paid. Like, seriously. They could rake in at least $20 million for just the first two rounds. And then, surprise, surprise—Boise State, out of nowhere, might be a sleeper hit, pulling in a sweet $8 million if they snag the No. 4 seed.

So basically, each of the teams—Notre Dame, Boise State, the Big 12 champ, and the ACC champ—will get $4 million. However, if Boise State lands the No. 4 seed and the bye, they’re going to make $8 million and the bye.

The further teams go, the more the cash piles up. If your team makes it to the championship game, that could mean $24 million for your conference. Big stakes, big rewards.

Why the Bye and Top Rankings are Game-Changers for CFP Payouts

Let’s take a moment to talk about the bye and how big of a financial win it is for the conferences that get those top spots. The CFP’s expanded 12-team format has added a new level of importance to the first four seeds, who don’t have to play in the opening round of games. The reward for this? A guaranteed $8 million for their conference. That’s $4 million just for making the playoff and another $4 million for advancing to the quarterfinals without lifting a finger.

For conferences like the SEC and Big Ten, which have multiple teams in the top 12 rankings, the financial benefits are huge. These conferences are looking at potentially $20 million or more in the first two rounds if they have enough teams making deep runs. And remember, if a conference is lucky enough to have two teams in the final, it could bring in an additional $12 million—$6 million per team for making the semifinals and another $6 million for each team that makes it to the title game.

So, not only are teams fighting for the championship, but they’re also fighting for that sweet bye and the huge payday that comes with it. It’s not just about winning anymore—it’s about securing the best spot for your team and your conference to cash in.