CLEMSON – Big news regarding the College Football Playoff’s possible new format came out Tuesday.

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark addressed the media prior to the start of the Big 12 Media Days and said he is doubling down on the 5-11 format, which is calling for a 16-team playoff that will have five automatic qualifiers and 11 at-large teams. The Big 10 and the SEC were originally planning on a 4+4+2+2+1+3 model, but the SEC changed their mind and was leaning towards the 5-11 model as meetings broke down last month.

Yormark expects ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips to double down on the 5-11 format, as well, at the ACC Football kickoff, which begins July 22 in Charlotte, N.C.

“I’m confident we’ll get to the right place. I’m confident we’ll get to 5-11,” Yormark reportedly said.

Yormark re-emphasized to a small group of reporters after his Big-12 address on Tuesday that that the memorandum of understanding signed by CFP leaders last year does not necessarily grant sole and exclusive power to the Big Ten and SEC over future format.

On June 18, Conference commissioners decided to go back to the drawing board and start the process over in terms of locking down a new CFP format for the 2026 season.

Commissioners from the Power 4 conferences decided they needed to further discuss what the new format would look like, meaning there is a chance that no decision will be made by the Dec. 1 deadline. If this happens, the CFP will default to the 12-team format for a third season.

The 2025 season is expected to be the last year the CFP uses the 12-team playoff.

Supposedly there is division from the SEC and Big Ten, which at one time appeared to be in line to pass a 4 (SEC)+4 (Big 10)+2 (ACC)+2 (Big 12)+1 (P6 qualifier)+3 (at-large bids) model as part of a 16-team playoff format. But according to Brett McMurphy of the Action Network, sources told him the SEC is now supporting a five automatic qualifier model with 11 at-large bids.

Why has the SEC changed direction?

“The SEC wants more value given to strength-of-schedule metrics, something CFP executives discussed in today’s meetings,” On3’s Brett McMurphy wrote back in June. “However, a source cautioned, even if strength of schedule is supposed to carry more weight w/committee, it still boils down to their opinions on who they think are the best teams.”

Yormark was asked about the CFP’s selection process on Tuesday and if the SEC’s strength of schedule demands be placed in the process.

“I have a lot of faith in the selection process,” he said. “They are doing a full audit of the selection process to figure out how to modernize and use data and how certain metrics can be weighted.”

The ACC and Big 12 originally brought up the 5+11 model and recommended the format during a commissioners’ meeting in May. This came after the commissioners agreed to change the seeding of the current 12-team playoff, as the top four seeds, according to the CFP rankings, will receive a first-round bye.