Big 12 commish Brett Yormark 'doubling down' on 5+11 CFP model - ESPN

FRISCO, Texas — Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is «doubling down» on the so-called 5+11 future College Football Playoff format, while acknowledging that it might benefit his league more in the future than currently.

The Big 12 and ACC have pushed the model, which would award automatic bids to the five highest-rated conference champions, plus 11 at-large bids determined by the CFP selection committee. The 5+11 model gained some support at the SEC's spring meetings, while the Big Ten has focused more on a model that would award four automatic bids to Big Ten teams and to SEC teams, plus two apiece to the Big 12 and the ACC.

Yormark, his fellow commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua must determine the CFP format for 2026 and beyond by Dec. 1.

The Big 12 had only one representative, champion Arizona State, in the inaugural 12-team CFP last year. Arizona State lost to Texas in two overtimes in a CFP quarterfinal matchup at the Peach Bowl.

«Five-11 is fair,» Yormark said Tuesday in his opening address at Big 12 media days at The Star. «We want to earn it on the field. It might not be the best solution today for the Big 12… but long-term, knowing the progress we're making, the investments we're making, it's the right format for us. And I'm doubling down today on 5-11.»

Yormark added that he expects ACC commissioner Jim Phillips to take the same position when that league holds its media days this month in Charlotte, North Carolina. The ACC sent two teams, champion Clemson and runner-up SMU, to the 12-team playoff last year. Yormark touted the Big 12 as the «deepest football conference in America» and said he believes the league will have multiple CFP entries this season.

«I have a lot of faith in the