Big 12 Commissioner Drops Bold Prediction: Multiple CFP Bids on the Horizon—Is a Conference Shakeup Coming?

“We continue to believe the 5-11 model proposed by the Big 12 and ACC is the right playoff format for college football,” Yormark said. “We want to earn it on the field. We do not need a professional model, because we are not the NFL. We are college football, and we must act like it.”

Yorkmark listed reasons why he believes the Big 12 will be the deepest. He said because of the nine returning quarterbacks and top coaching lineups.

The 5-plus-11 proposed model means the five conference champions receive an automatic bid, and then 11 at-large teams make up the remainder of the playoff, voted on by the CFP selection committee. The SEC did propose a model of the SEC and Big Ten each getting four bids, the Big 12 and ACC getting two bids each. This received backlash because it wasn’t fair to the other two conferences

Yormark was first on the stage, and in his opening statement, made a bold claim amid college football conferences battling for superiority. 

The SEC has since backtracked in favor of the 5-plus-11 and 16-team playoff model.

“I fully expect the Big 12 to earn multiple College Football Playoff bids this year, and to show once again that we can compete with anyone.”

If by deepest, Yormark means competitive, then it could be the case. Four teams were tied with a league-best 7-2 conference record, and three teams were just one game back. With a lot of teams returning quarterbacks, this could be the case again. The issue is the Big 12 didn’t get the most bids like the SEC or the Big 10, so it’s hard to support the claim.

“I believe we will be the deepest football conference in America,” Yormark said. “No league offers the competitive balance that we do.”

“We’ve been the best conference in men’s basketball over the last 10 years,” Yormark said.

FRISCO, Texas — Right out of the gate on Day 1 of the Big 12 Media Days, commissioner Brett Yormark wasted no time tossing down a gauntlet. Stepping up first to the mic, he made a sweeping statement that’s sure to ignite some debates among college football’s powerhouse conferences. “I believe we will be the deepest football conference in America,” Yormark declared, emphasizing the competitive fire and balance that, in his eyes, no other league can touch. With nine starters returning under center and top-tier coaching staffs poised for another battle, he’s staring down the season with high expectations — even going so far as to predict multiple College Football Playoff bids for the Big 12 this year. It’s a striking assertion, especially when you glance back at last season’s underwhelming showing and the preseason rankings this year. Yet, if depth implies parity and grit, there might just be something to his confidence. Beyond the gridiron, Yormark also touted the Big 12’s prowess on the hardwood, citing two national championships in men’s basketball over the past decade — a claim that, while bold, carries some weight. Wrapping his commentary, he defended the conference’s stance on the evolving College Football Playoff format, backing the 5-plus-11 proposal as the fairest path forward — a model focusing on earning spots through on-field success rather than predetermined slots. Love it or question it, Yormark’s remarks set the tone for what promises to be an electrifying season ahead. LEARN MORE

This is a bold claim because of how the Big 12 performed last year. The conference received one bid with Arizona State, which was bested in the first game it played in, although a close match. This year, most preseason polls have just one Big 12 team ranked in the top 10, so it’s hard to believe that there’ll be more teams in the fall.

Concluding Yormark’s time on the stage, he talked about the future of the College Football Playoff and where the Big 12 stands on the format. 

Yormark also made a strong claim about the men’s basketball conference, too.

This statement has more support. Over the past 10 years, the Big 12 has had two national champions and two runner-ups. The Big East and ACC still have the same, or if not more, in the last 10 years, so it’s still not a perfect claim, but it shows again how highly he speaks of his conference.

FRISCO, Texas — It didn’t take long into the start of Day 1 of Big 12 Media Days for league commissioner Brett Yormark to make a splash. 

“5-11 is fair,” Yormark said. “We want to earn it on the field. It might not be the best solution for the Big 12. Knowing long-term the progress we are making, the investments we are making, it’s the right format for us.”

This year is another 12-team playoff, but in the future, it seems likely there’ll be a 5-plus-11 model with 16 teams.