Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is advocating for a 5+11 College Football Playoff (CFP) model, which would give automatic bids to the top five conference champions and 11 at-large teams, though he recognizes it might benefit his league more in the future than currently.

Yormark explained that the decision to eliminate the preseason poll was driven by transfer portal dynamics and roster uncertainties, which can distort early assessments of team strength.

The potential 16-team playoff format could include four qualifiers each from the SEC and Big Ten, and two each from the Big 12 and ACC, with the Big 12 having only one team, Arizona State, in the previous playoff.

Following conference realignments, the Big 12 now includes 16 teams, such as BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF, after losing Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC and gaining schools from the Pac-12.

Yormark emphasizes that teams should earn playoff spots through performance rather than automatic bids to ensure fairness and prevent dominance by SEC and Big Ten schools.

The Big 12 led the nation in fourth-quarter lead changes and go-ahead scores in the final minute last season, showcasing its competitive nature.

Recent signs of the Big 12's strength include Texas Tech's top-rated transfer class and strong recruiting efforts, indicating the league's improving competitiveness.

Yormark highlights the transition of the Big 12 to a 16-team league and notes the departure of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC, with new members like BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF.

Current negotiations involve the ACC, Big 12, SEC, and Big Ten, focusing on the structure and selection process for the CFP, especially for the 2026 season and beyond.

The move to eliminate the preseason media poll aligns the Big 12 with the Big Ten, aiming to better reflect team strength amid roster changes and transfer portal impacts.

Yormark emphasizes the importance of parity and competitiveness across the league, expecting some schools to emerge as consistently elite in the future, and highlights efforts to increase the Big 12's national relevance.

He also believes the league's depth is a major strength and expects some schools to become perennial contenders over time.