How The New CFP Agreement Will Benefit Utah

“[The new CFP contract] will begin in 2026 and bring the sport’s postseason much closer to an expected 14-team field with guarantees for conference champions,” wrote ESPN senior college football writer Heather Dinich.

“The memorandum of understanding guarantees that the field will have at least 12 teams in 2026 and beyond, but sources indicate there is a strong preference for a 14-team field that includes the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next nine highest-ranked teams.”

In addition to its proposed changes to the CFP format, the new deal brings forth remarkable changes concerning revenue distribution.

Regarding financials, teams from the Big 12 are expected to earn upwards of $12 million a year under the new contract. Currently, Big 12 and ACC teams earn around $6 million a year in compensation.

This $6 million jump in revenue is a major reason teams like Utah will benefit heavily under the new deal. With team success and financial expenditures being more intertwined than ever thanks to NIL, any raise in CFP 'salary' is a big deal.

In addition to increased revenue, a 14-team playoff would give Utah more chances to make the postseason each year.

The Utes will begin their tenure in the Big 12 under the CFP’s seemingly temporary, 12-team, 5+7 playoff model. If expanded to 14 teams in 2026, there is a variety of models that could benefit Utah. The current frontrunner is a 5+9 14-team model that would give the Big 12 champion an automatic qualification to the playoff and then provide nine at-large spots for the highest-ranked non-conference champions.

Yahoo Sports added to the discussion, describing two different 14-team playoff models receiving consideration:

“There still exists the possibility of multiple automatic qualifiers for individual leagues, including a format that grants three automatic qualifiers each to the SEC and Big Ten, two each to the ACC and Big 12 and one to the highest ranked Group of Five programs, with three at-large spots — a 3-3-2-2-1+3 model,” wrote College Football Reporter Ross Dellenger.

“There is a 2-2-1-1-1+7 model under consideration, too. It grants two auto berths each to the SEC and Big Ten, one each to the ACC and Big 12, one to the highest-ranked Group of Five, with seven at-large spots.”

While these models are advantageous for the SEC and Big Ten, they present great opportunities for teams like the Utes to make the playoffs. Especially the 3-3-2-2-1+3 model that would grant the Big 12 two automatic qualifying bids.

However, as of now, nothing is set in stone, and for at least the next two seasons, Utah’s most logical route to the CFP playoff will come by way of winning the Big 12 title.