We’re about to bid farewell to the 12-team playoff. College football is on the brink of a big shift and Ohio State fans have every reason to be excited. A new report suggests that the College Football Playoff format is set for a major overhaul starting in 2026. Ryan Day’s Buckeyes have a strong chance to benefit in a big way. Per Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, discussions are heating up over expanding the playoff field to 14 or 16 teams. The Big Ten and the SEC would each receive four automatic bids under the new proposed format. 

This means that Ohio State will have an even clearer path to the national championship, a development that could solidify their dominance for years to come. On a new episode on Ohio State Football at Buckeyes Scoop on February 23, Nevada Buck laid out the bright path for Ryan Day’s team. “Starting in 2026, the new playoff structure is determined solely by the Big Ten and the SEC,” it stated. “What they’ve come up with is the expansion to a 14-team playoff, which means you’ll have two teams that are gonna have a bye in the first round.”

“The winner of the SEC and the winner of the Big Ten will get a bye in the first round of the playoff and then they’ll go off for a normal 16-team format after that. With the other 12 teams playing the first round games, and then you move on through the process down to the ultimate championship. Each of the conferences, the Big Ten and the SEC will get four auto-bids.”

For Ryan Day and the Buckeyes, this shift is nothing short of a golden ticket to the CFP. Unlike past seasons where Ohio State had to finish top 4 in the nation to secure a playoff berth, the new structure ensures that simply being among the top four teams in the Big Ten will be enough. The selection process will also see significant changes. Instead of solely relying on regular-season standings, the Big Ten championship weekend will become an extended playoff round. 

The top two teams will contend for the conference title while earning auto playoff bids each. The third and sixth seeds will square off while the fourth and fifth will compete with the winners earning automatic bids. This expansion transforms the conference championship weekend into a thrilling multi-game spectacle, boosting competition and excitement. Under this format, the rich will only get richer and Ohio State is one to benefit from this change. 

Ohio State’s future looks bright

As Ohio State continues to navigate the NIL era and refine its recruiting strategy, the expanded CFP could further cement its status as a national powerhouse.  “I think all these things really unearth the benefits of a school like Ohio State because I think the rich are gonna get richer under this format,” Nevada Buck pointed out. “And for Ohio State’s gonna get the best of football throws because they’re a robust higher program, they got a great recruiting base in the state of Ohio.” 

The Buckeyes boast one of the strongest talent pipelines in college football in addition to a national brand that attracts top prospects from coast to coast. With more playoff spots up for grabs and a system designed to favor powerhouse programs, the future looks exceptionally bright for Ohio State. As the CFP committee prepares to finalize the format in the coming weeks, Buckeye Nation can start envisioning a new era of dominance in the chase for national championships. 

One thing is clear — Ryan Day and OSU are primed to thrive under this new system.