Would the eleven P4 teams (Indiana, Nebraska, Ole Miss and others) without a 10th P4 game next year be excluded (or at least evaluated differently) from CFP selection?

Kinda short notice.

Maybe have a special rule for 2027 if any of the teams make it to the CFP 24 team field, they have to play a play-in game against the 25th ranked team.

For 4 of these schools, they are playing either Oregon State or Washington State. I wonder if games against these schools might be grandfathered in as some of these games were scheduled back when the PAC-12 was a Power 5 conference.

(10-20-2026 04:51 PM)Smedly02 Wrote:  For 4 of these schools, they are playing either Oregon State or Washington State. I wonder if games against these schools might be grandfathered in as some of these games were scheduled back when the PAC-12 was a Power 5 conference.

I would imagine they would be. No reason not to consider them "P4-like" for now.

I imagine next year's games involving Washington State and Oregon State will be grandfathered in. I'm curious what Kansas will do since our game against WSU next season is a road game and we host them in 28 but don't have a P4 scheduled for 28.

For those wondering:
Oregon State travels to BYU and Ole Miss
Wazoo is at Washington and hosts Arizona and Kansas

Ole Miss OOC in 2027:
EIU (FCS)
Charlotte
Oregon State

Very weak OOC

BYU OOC in 2027:
Oregon State
Weber State
@Notre Dame

So playing 10 P4 + Oregon State

Washington 2027 OOC
Fresno State
Portland State
@ Wazzoo

Given the Apple Cup (which isn't scheduled yet beyond 2028) - Wazzoo should always count as a P4 for Washington

Kansas 2027 OOC Schedule:
Louisiana Tech
SE Missouri
at Wazzoo


Arizona 2027 OOC Schedule:
at Colorado State
Northern Arizona
Washington State

WVU plays Southern Miss, VMI & Ohio next year.

(10-20-2026 05:17 PM)Hokie4Skins Wrote:  WVU plays Southern Miss, VMI & Ohio next year.

There are a few schools that an old CFB fan like myself still think of as "Major College" that aren't in the P4. ECU, Southern Miss, and Memphis are three southeastern schools I think of that way.

(10-20-2026 05:17 PM)Hokie4Skins Wrote:  WVU plays Southern Miss, VMI & Ohio next year.

WVU was playing 11 power teams not too long ago.

Also, I heard a rumor the “10 power games” is not something ESPN wanted as part of their contract.

(10-20-2026 05:46 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(10-20-2026 05:17 PM)Hokie4Skins Wrote:  WVU plays Southern Miss, VMI & Ohio next year.

There are a few schools that an old CFB fan like myself still think of as "Major College" that aren't in the P4. ECU, Southern Miss, and Memphis are three southeastern schools I think of that way.

Right there with you….

Guessing there will be P4 exceptions for following games if played

Wash-Wash St
Ore-Ore St
USF-UCF

But not for anybody who plays Wash St, Ore St, USF and UConn (former BCS/P5 schools)

(10-20-2026 05:07 PM)TeamRamRod1 Wrote:  I imagine next year's games involving Washington State and Oregon State will be grandfathered in. I'm curious what Kansas will do since our game against WSU next season is a road game and we host them in 28 but don't have a P4 scheduled for 28.

Easiest thing to do, and most reasonable imo, is to give a 5 or 10 year grace period on those 2. So basically, if you scheduled them before the Pac died, you get to count the game as a P4 opponent, if you scheduled them last year, well, you knew they weren't power teams anymore by then.

(10-20-2026 07:14 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(10-20-2026 05:07 PM)TeamRamRod1 Wrote:  I imagine next year's games involving Washington State and Oregon State will be grandfathered in. I'm curious what Kansas will do since our game against WSU next season is a road game and we host them in 28 but don't have a P4 scheduled for 28.

Easiest thing to do, and most reasonable imo, is to give a 5 or 10 year grace period on those 2. So basically, if you scheduled them before the Pac died, you get to count the game as a P4 opponent, if you scheduled them last year, well, you knew they weren't power teams anymore by then.

Other than Oregon-Oregon State and the Apple Cup. Should make an allowance for that

(10-20-2026 05:12 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  For those wondering:
Oregon State travels to BYU and Ole Miss
Wazoo is at Washington and hosts Arizona and Kansas

Ole Miss OOC in 2027:
EIU (FCS)
Charlotte
Oregon State

Very weak OOC

BYU OOC in 2027:
Oregon State
Weber State
@Notre Dame

So playing 10 P4 + Oregon State

Washington 2027 OOC
Fresno State
Portland State
@ Wazzoo

Given the Apple Cup (which isn't scheduled yet beyond 2028) - Wazzoo should always count as a P4 for Washington

Kansas 2027 OOC Schedule:
Louisiana Tech
SE Missouri
at Wazzoo


Arizona 2027 OOC Schedule:
at Colorado State
Northern Arizona
Washington State

Yeah that’s a very bad OOC for Ole Missy is 2027. Unacceptable even.

(10-20-2026 06:21 PM)goofus Wrote:  Guessing there will be P4 exceptions for following games if played

Wash-Wash St
Ore-Ore St
USF-UCF

But not for anybody who plays Wash St, Ore St, USF and UConn (former BCS/P5 schools)

Cincinnati-Miami?

I see:

ACC
*none*

Big 12
Arizona *
Kansas *
TCU
Texas Tech (one open slot)

B1G
Indiana
Nebraska
Oregon
Washington *
USC (one open slot)

SEC
Ole' Miss *

That's 11 schools, 3 of 4 autonomy conferences represented. If they force 10 for '27 you'll see a bunch of B1G vs XII march-ups replacing some G6 and FCS opponents. Some schools likely got caught out by scheduling Oregon State or Washington State, who just lost their autonomy status (I note with *).

WSU plays
09/11 - Kansas
09/18 - Washington
09/25 - at Arizona

OSU plays
09/18 - at Ole Miss

USC deliberately dropped A4 opponents. IU is a case of Cignetti deliberately avoiding them. Lincoln Riley also at USC. BTW, is anyone surprised Cody Campbell's Texas Tech is on the list?

Nebraska appears to be a scheduling fluke, a one off, where they normally have a power OOC and will return to having them from '28 onward.


Updated 11/3

Dropping off the list
West Virginia (playing Purdue)
Oklahoma (playing SMU)
Minnesota (playing Mississippi State)

(10-20-2026 10:15 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  I see:

ACC
*none*

Big 12
Arizona
Kansas
TCU
Texas Tech (one open slot)
West Virginia

B1G
Indiana
Minnesota
Nebraska
Oregon
Washington
USC (one open slot)

SEC
Oklahoma
Ole' Miss

That's 13 schools, 3 of 4 autonomy conferences represented. If they force 10 for '27 you'll see a bunch of B1G vs XII march-ups replacing some G6 and FCS opponents. A few schools likely got caught out by scheduling Oregon State or Washington State, who just lost their autonomy status.

WSU plays
09/11 - Kansas
09/18 - Washington
09/25 - at Arizona

OSU plays
09/18 - at Ole Miss

USC deliberately dropped A4 opponents. IU is a case of Cignetti deliberately avoiding them. OU could also be the Lincoln Riley effect, like USC. BTW, is anyone surprised Cody Campbell's Texas Tech is on the list?

Nebraska appears to be a scheduling fluke, a one off, where they normally have a power OOC and will return to having them from '28 onward.

Both Minnesota (@Mississippi State) and Oklahoma (vs. SMU @Jerry World) are good to go for next season.

(10-20-2026 10:07 PM)Crayton Wrote:  

(10-20-2026 06:21 PM)goofus Wrote:  Guessing there will be P4 exceptions for following games if played

Wash-Wash St
Ore-Ore St
USF-UCF

But not for anybody who plays Wash St, Ore St, USF and UConn (former BCS/P5 schools)

Cincinnati-Miami?

Considering this game is not on the schedule going forward why would this game be an exception?

Nebraska had Tennessee on the schedule and they pulled out of the series. We should get OU or KU on the schedule and reschedule one of the G5 opponents.

(10-21-2026 10:24 AM)Eggszecutor Wrote:  Nebraska had Tennessee on the schedule and they pulled out of the series. We should get OU or KU on the schedule and reschedule one of the G5 opponents.

That'd be good. Kansas could keep Wash St and drop one of the other two.