CFP expansion plans 'in some jeopardy,' says Big 12 commish Bob Bowlsby

Expansion of the College Football Playoff from a four-team format to a tournament of eight or 12 teams long appeared to be inevitable, but now those plans are "in some jeopardy," according to Big 12 commissioner Ben Bowlsby.

According to ESPN, Bowlsby told reporters that time is running out for the CFB Playoff management committee to agree to a new format for the 2024 or 2025 season. The Playoff was created in 2014 and exists on a 12-year contract, so if no changes are made soon, they'll have to be implemented into a new contract beginning in 2026.

The biggest holdup in negotiations has been whether or not winners of Power Five conference championships will receive an automatic bid into the CFB Playoff, according to Brett McMurphy of Action Network.

The next meeting for the management committee is scheduled for January around the national championship game in Indianapolis, Ind., but ESPN says a meeting could be convened earlier.

Alabama and Clemson have combined to win the championship in five of the first seven years of the CFB Playoff.