FRISCO, Texas — Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark described his mindset Tuesday as “doubling down” on the conference’s preferred format for the College Football Playoff. But his staunch support for the so-called 5+11 model was more a case of drawing a big, bold line on the negotiating table — with the Big Ten squarely on the other side.
Yormark addressed a variety of topics during his state-of-the-conference address at Big 12 football media days, including future overseas competitions and new business ventures. His most passionate comments were directed at the most controversial topic in college football: the specifics of the CFP format starting in the 2026 season.
“We continue to believe the 5+11 model is the right playoff format,” Yormark said. “We want to earn it on the field. We do not need a professional model. We are not the NFL. We are college football and we must act like it.”
The remarks were seemingly aimed directly at the Big Ten, which has proposed a 16-team model with 13 automatic qualifiers (AQs). The Big Ten and SEC would each receive four; the ACC and Big 12 would get two; and one would be assigned to the top-ranked conference champion from outside the Power Four leagues. (The other three spots would be reserved for at-large teams.)
The Big 12 and ACC countered the Big Ten’s proposal with what has been called the 5+11 model, which assigns five bids to conference champions and 11 to at-large teams.
Yormark acknowledged that 5+11, which only guarantees the Big 12 one berth — as opposed to the two spots it would receive under the AQ model — “might not be the best solution today for the Big 12.”
But “long term, it’s the right format,” he added. “I’m doubling down on 5+11.”
The SEC and Big Ten carry the most weight in the decision-making process and must resolve the matter by December with input from the ACC, Big 12 and other conferences.
Yormark said he was “confident” that 5+11 would be adopted for the fall of 2026, when the CFP begins a new contract cycle.
Other notable nuggets from Yormark’s address:
— Changes to the NCAA governance structure should be finalized in August, Yormark said. The ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and SEC are expected to have more influence on issues and more freedom to craft legislation that suits their needs and challenges.
— The first Big 12 football game of 2025 matches Kansas State and Iowa State in Ireland. The conference returns to Dublin next year when TCU faces North Carolina. And Yormark said the conference is planning baseball games in Mexico City and women’s basketball games in Paris.
“I want this conference to be a global conference,” he said.
— The Big 12 eliminated its preseason media poll this year, a move Yormark called “the right thing to do.” The impetus for the decision: Arizona State emerged as the conference champion after being picked last in the 2024 poll.
— The Sun Devils won the inaugural Big 12 Commissioner’s Cup, given to the athletic department that best develops athletes on and off the field.
The scoring system is based on “a combination of NCAA Graduation Success Rate, Big 12 regular and postseason titles, plus on-campus programs offered that focus on community engagement, mental health and career development,” according to the conference.
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