The College Football Playoff's planned expansion is raising significant questions for the Group of 6 conferences, according to a report by David Rumsey of Front Office Sports published on November 10, 2026. The expansion could reshape access and revenue distribution for conferences outside the Power 5, but details remain uncertain.
The Group of 6 — comprising the American Athletic, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, Sun Belt, and independent programs — faces potential changes to playoff qualification pathways and financial implications as the CFP board considers a larger bracket.
Stakeholders are awaiting further clarity on selection criteria, automatic bids, and revenue sharing models that could determine the future competitiveness of these conferences.
