ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12 will reportedly re-raise topic of 8-team playoff

The three conferences that teamed up in August to form The Alliance (the ACC, Big Ten, and Pac-12) plan to "re-raise the topic" of an eight-team format in the College Football Playoff, according to Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic.

In June, Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports reported that a 12-team playoff was the more likely format to be adopted by the College Football Playoff management committee. That proposal was put forth and championed by Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby and Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson.

Auerbach says the ACC and the Big Ten are the most attached to the eight-team format, while the Pac-12 is okay with either idea of expanding the playoff field.

The current four-team format of the College Football Playoff has no automatic bids and four at-large spots that are rewarded by a committee. In both the eight-team and 12-team proposals, there would be either five or six automatic bids with the remainder of the spots going to at-large teams.

An increased number of at-large bids would benefit teams that aren't a member of the Power 5 conferences like Cincinnati or UTSA, play independent of a conference like Notre Dame or BYU, or play in a conference that consistently dominates the rankings like the SEC.

For members of The Alliance, automatic qualification for major conference championships is the priority. The Pac-12 has been shut out of the playoff for four consecutive seasons and the Big Ten once saw its champion get left on the outside looking in three straight seasons.