The ongoing evolution of the College Football Playoff (CFP) format has sparked considerable debate, particularly regarding its implications for various conferences. Commissioner Tony Petitti’s proposed 4-4-2-2-1 model, while seemingly offering a guaranteed pathway for more leagues, presents a nuanced disadvantage for conferences like the Big 12, and by extension, teams such as Iowa State.Under the 4-4-2-2-1 structure, which allocates four automatic bids to the top four conference champions, followed by a tiered selection process, the Big 12 would indeed secure a guaranteed slot. However, this guarantee comes at a potential cost: a reduced opportunity for multiple teams from the
