Big 12’s Yormark doubles down on '5-11' CFP model for 2026, reigniting expansion debate

As the college football landscape continues its rapid evolution, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark is once again pushing for what he sees as the most equitable path forward: a “5-11” College Football Playoff model. Speaking at the Big 12 Media Days on Tuesday, Yormark made it clear he is not backing down from the proposal, even as tension builds among the sport’s power brokers.

“We want to earn it on the field,” Yormark said. “It might not be the best solution today for the Big 12, but long term... it’s the right format for us. And I’m doubling down today on 5-11.”

The model Yormark advocates for would feature five automatic bids for the top conference champions and 11 at-large bids, expanding the playoff to a 16-team field starting in 2026. This would replace the current 12-team format that debuted in 2024.

A Split Among Power Conferences

While the Big 12 and ACC support the 5-11 model, the Big Ten and SEC are pushing a different vision — one that leans heavily in their favor. Their model would grant four automatic spots to each of their conferences, two to the ACC and Big 12, and a slot for Notre Dame, leaving only three at-large bids.

Critics of the Big Ten-SEC proposal say it concentrates too much power in two leagues. Yormark and ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips have argued that such an imbalance would harm the sport’s national reach and undermine the idea of merit-based qualification.

The issue is far from settled, and commissioners have until December 2025 to agree on a structure for the 2026 postseason and beyond.

Learning from the First 12-Team Playoff

The 2024 season saw the first 12-team College Football Playoff. It ended with Ohio State defeating Notre Dame 34–23 in the National Championship — but not before exposing flaws in the format. The four teams that earned first-round byes, all conference champions, lost in their opening playoff games.

That anomaly sparked renewed conversation around how playoff spots are awarded and whether automatic bids should even guarantee an advantage.

Yormark cited these results as part of the rationale for broader inclusion under a 5-11 format. “The idea that you win your conference and then get tripped up early doesn’t mean your season wasn’t playoff-worthy,” he noted.

Coaches Weigh In — With Caveats

Coaches at Big 12 Media Days were generally cautious about endorsing any specific format, though concerns about player health amid expanded schedules were raised.

“The wear and tear on the athletes is real,” said Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman. “I don’t think we help that at all by knocking the roster size down.”

Klieman pointed out the contradiction of expanding the playoff while reducing roster limits, suggesting that player welfare must be a part of future playoff discussions.

Aiming for Competitive Parity

The Big 12 had just one representative in last year’s playoff — Arizona State — which lost a dramatic double-overtime game to Texas in the quarterfinals. Yormark acknowledged that the league still has work to do to be consistently competitive at the highest level.

“Parity matters,” he said. “Ultimately... there’ll be a couple of our schools that will emerge as elite schools that are always part of the conversations at the highest levels. That’s what we’re working towards.”

Yormark praised the Big 12’s depth and hinted that new data-driven metrics would play a role in evaluating strength of schedule and team performance. “They’re doing a full audit,” he said of the selection committee. “How can they modernize and contemporize... how certain metrics can be more heavily weighted?”

What Comes Next?

With the clock ticking toward a December deadline, all eyes are now on closed-door meetings and negotiations that will define the future of college football’s postseason. Yormark remains optimistic that consensus will be reached — and that the 5-11 format will prevail.

“I have a lot of faith in the selection process,” he said. “I think the fairness piece, the access piece, and earning it on the field — all that still matters.”

Until then, the Big 12 is focused on what it can control: the upcoming season. Conference play kicks off with a marquee rivalry matchup between Kansas State and Iowa State — this time in Dublin, Ireland, on August 23.

The playoff structure might still be undecided, but on the field, the competition begins soon.