New formats to the College Football Playoff mean programs will deploy new scheduling philosophies in the nonconference. Some believe having the best possible record is all that matters. Strength of schedule was a major talking point during the 2024 season,

The 12-team College Football Playoff was a great success during the 2024 season. It was the first season with the format, and it worked great. Ohio State, the eighth seed going into the CFP, ran the table and won its first National Championship in a decade.

College Football Playoff expansion appears to be imminent as the SEC and Big Ten look to use their combined power to redesign the format to their advantage. While nothing has been made public, the SEC and Big Ten held private talks recently in which they reportedly mulled over the idea of rewarding themselves with four automatic bids each.