Fix the CFP: A Transparent, Fair Playoff for Every College Football Program
College football deserves a playoff system built on fairness, not favoritism.
Right now, a handful of committee members and opinion polls decide who plays for a national title. Smaller programs are locked out before the season starts. Fans are left guessing, and athletes bear the weight of politics instead of performance.

It’s time to rebuild the system - from the ground up.

 
The Fan Fairness Plan
A reform blueprint designed by fans, for the game, centered on three principles:
open rankings, equal access, and honest schedules.

1. Composite Index Rankings
Replace closed-door rankings with a public formula blending:

Strength of Record (50%) - how impressive your wins and losses are, adjusted for opponent quality and location.
Efficiency (30%) - your play-by-play performance against the strength of your schedule.
Elo Rating (20%) - results-based, margin-capped, and home/away adjusted.
The full data and formula would be public - every fan could see exactly how teams are ranked each week. No secrets, no bias, no spin.

 
2. A True 16-Team Playoff
Open the door for everyone in the FBS to compete.

10 automatic bids for conference champions.
6 at-large spots for the highest-ranked teams.
Campus playoff games for the first two rounds, with semifinals and finals rotating among bowls.
Every team starts the season with a real shot at the championship - not just the same ten schools.

 
3. Fair Scheduling
End the “cupcake game” era.

9 conference games plus 2 cross-conference matchups assigned by a neutral scheduler to balance strength.
No FCS opponents in rankings consideration.
Travel and rest safeguards to protect players.
Schedules should test teams equally and give every program a chance to prove themselves on the field.

 
4. Transparency & Governance
Create an Independent Rankings Board of former coaches, administrators, and statisticians - with:

Open-source data and formulas.
Two public audits per year.
Posted term limits and no hidden conflicts of interest.
Fans and analysts should be able to check the math and verify fairness.

 
5. Player Welfare
The reform includes:

Two bye weeks per season.
Limited cross-country travel.
Protected academic finals week in December.
Revenue sharing from playoff expansion directly with players.
Fairness shouldn’t stop at rankings - it should reach the athletes themselves.

 
Transition Plan
Year 0 (Pilot): Run the Composite Index alongside current CFP rankings to compare outcomes.
Year 1: Officially adopt the Index for seeding the existing 12-team playoff.
Year 2: Expand to a 16-team playoff with full transparency and scheduling reforms.

 
Why It Matters
This isn’t about tearing down college football - it’s about restoring trust in it.
Fans deserve honesty. Players deserve fairness. Every school deserves a path to prove itself.

Sign below to demand change from the NCAA and the College Football Playoff Board.
Let’s make college football’s championship truly belong to everyone.

#FixTheCFP | #FairField2026