AFCA Recommends Ending Conference Championships, Expanding CFP

The American Football Coaches Association recommended sweeping changes to college football's postseason Tuesday, including the elimination of conference championship games and expansion of the College Football Playoff to the maximum number of participants, with the season concluding no later than the second Monday in January.

The nonbinding proposals, adopted by the AFCA board at its annual meeting last week, aim to shorten the season and reduce physical demands on players. "The American Football Coaches Association has identified the length of the college football season as a critical issue that needs to be addressed," the group stated. "As we modernize our game to better serve student-athletes, we have fallen short in structuring a season that concludes in a timely and sustainable way."

Key elements include mandating at least six days between games, reducing scheduled bye weeks from two to one, and preserving a dedicated window for the Army-Navy game while allowing flexibility for other matchups on the same day. The changes would align the postseason more closely with the academic calendar and a single transfer portal window, the AFCA said, while maintaining competitive rhythm...