5-7 model approved for 12-team College Football Playoff for 2024 season

With Nick Saban at the helm, Alabama dominated the four-team College Football Playoff. In 2024, the College Football Playoff is expanding to 12 teams and the Crimson Tide will have to navigate the new landscape with Kalen DeBoer. 

On Tuesday, the college football world got some clarity regarding the 12-team playoff. The College Football Playoff Board of Managers unanimously approved the 5-7 model for qualification which guarantees a spot in the CFP for the five highest ranked conference champions. The rest of the field will be filled out by the next seven highest-ranked teams as decided by the College Football Playoff committee.

Kalen DeBoer is very familiar with the death of the Pac-12 and that played a big role in the decision to adopt this model as opposed to a 6-6 model which was previously considered. 

Chair of the CFP Board of Managers, Dr. Mark Keenum, President of Mississippi State said, “This is a very logical adjustment for the College Football Playoff based on the evolution of our conference structures since the board first adopted this new format in September 2022.”

This decision was made to ensure on spot for a Group of Five team, but with only four remaining “power conferences” a 6-6 model was no longer necessary to accomplish that. Keenum thinks it will be widely accepted, as it will ensure a spot on the CFP for a team like FSU in 2023, which Alabama jumped for the final spot last season. 

The Crimson Tide may not have been in playoff contention with a four-team model in 2024, but DeBoer could get the Crimson Tide into contention for the expanded CFP with Jalen Milroe at quarterback.