Mississippi State president Mark Keenum, who heads the School Soccer Playoff oversight committee, mentioned Friday that he’s not optimistic concerning the CFP increasing from 12 to 16 groups subsequent season and that the SEC would like a mannequin with no computerized qualifiers.
In an interview on “The Paul Finebaum Present” on Mississippi State’s campus in Starkville, Keenum acknowledged — with out giving specifics — that enlargement talks amongst convention leaders have reached an deadlock.
“I’m not very optimistic that we’ll get to it, however we’ll maintain engaged on it,” Keenum mentioned.
CFP leaders have a Dec. 1 deadline to tell their ESPN tv companions of any format modifications for subsequent 12 months, when a brand new six-year media rights contract kicks in with the community.
“…Not have Automated bids. Thats the place of Southeastern Convention presidents, chancellors, our commissioner and prob a lot of the conferences which might be a part of CFP.”
MSST Pres. Mark Keenum chatting with me concerning the CFP & the BOM vote later this month. pic.twitter.com/fVey3bSAdv
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) November 7, 2025
The CFP administration committee — made up of 11 FBS convention commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director — spent months, courting to final 12 months, contemplating enlargement to 14 after which 16 groups. The Large Ten pushed for a mannequin that will have every energy convention obtain a number of computerized bids, with the Large Ten and SEC every receiving 4 and the ACC and Large 12 every getting two.
The Large 12 then offered another 16-team mannequin throughout spring convention conferences, growing the variety of at-large bids from the present seven to 11 whereas nonetheless leaving room for the 5 highest-rated convention champions.
That mannequin appealed to the SEC, however not the Large Ten. And there was little motion for the reason that summer season.
The brand new CFP agreements give the Large Ten and SEC the ultimate say over the format. With them unable to agree on the best way to broaden, the choice is to maintain the playoff the way in which it’s for the 2026 season, whereas nonetheless contemplating enlargement choices for future seasons.
“I’m not a giant fan of computerized qualifiers,” Keenum mentioned. “I feel one of the best groups should play in our nation’s nationwide match to find out who our nationwide champion in faculty soccer goes to be. And never have computerized bids. And that’s the place of the Southeastern Convention presidents and chancellors, our commissioners and doubtless a lot of the conferences which might be a part of the CFP. We’re nonetheless negotiating.”
The Large Ten has floated an concept for a 24- or 28-team playoff that provides every energy convention 4 computerized bids.
Large 12 commissioner Brett Yormark expressed curiosity in enlargement past 16, which would come with an equal variety of computerized qualifiers for every energy convention. Fox Sports activities CEO Eric Shanks additionally backed a 24-team playoff final month. Fox is the Large Ten’s important TV accomplice and holds no rights to the CFP.
“If we are able to work to broaden it to incorporate extra faculties, I like it,” Keenum mentioned. “It simply energizes faculty soccer by way of the common season.”
