The College Football Playoff is changing again. This fall, the 12-team playoff will move to a straight seeding model, rewarding the top four ranked teams with first-round byes—no more freebies just for winning a power conference title.
It’s a smart shift. In fact, one might say huge. Had it been used last year, Oregon, Georgia, Texas, and Penn State would’ve claimed the byes instead of Boise State and Arizona State, both of whom benefitted from the old “top conference champion” rule.
For the average fan, this just means better matchups. For teams like Notre Dame and the SEC's non-champs, it’s a lifeline. But for Kentucky fans? Well... does it matter?
Why Kentucky football is still on the outside looking in
Here’s the brutal truth:
Mark Stoops has never finished a regular season ranked in the Top 12. Not once in 12 years.
Yes, the Wildcats finished No. 12 after beating Iowa in the 2022 Citrus Bowl. But in terms of regular-season rankings—the ones that will decide CFP spots—Kentucky has never cracked the field.
This is despite the school paying top-dollar for its football brain trust:
- Mark Stoops: $9,013,600
- Brad White: $1.75 million
- Bush Hamdan: $1.35 million
- Vince Marrow: $1.3 million
That’s nearly $13.5 million in combined coaching salaries. Still, no playoff contention. No top-12 finishes.
Calzada, a new o-line, and Stoops' ground-and-pound revival
Maybe 2025 changes that? Maybe?
Zach Calzada, now in his 7th year of college football, takes the reins at quarterback. Kentucky is rebuilding the offensive line once again, this time with hopes of channeling Stoops' old-school ground-and-pound identity. OC Bush Hamdan was brought in to return to the 2015 playbook, and that is what he is going to do this year.
Stoops' teams are typically physical, disciplined, and tough on defense. But they haven't shown the explosive offense or week-to-week consistency required to rise above the Tennessees, LSUs, and Oklahomas of the world in the final CFP rankings. Now they are slipping behind Vanderbilt.
Playoff format makes sense—just not for UK
“We all have a responsibility to serve our constituents while also being mindful as to what's best for college football,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips in a quote to ESPN. “Today’s decision was done in the best interest of the sport.”
That’s hard to argue with. This is about the best teams, not just the best résumés. If Notre Dame goes undefeated, they deserve a top-four seed. If a two-loss SEC team is better than an undefeated Group of Five champ, they should be seeded higher.
This decision brings the CFP closer to the actual product on the field. That’s great for fans and for the sport.
It just doesn’t do much for Kentucky, which continues to operate in a familiar zone: good, not great.
The bottom line
Kentucky fans will notice the change only when watching others in the playoffs. Until Mark Stoops proves he can finish in the top 12 before bowl season, all this talk about seeding and byes feels like a fancy new menu at a restaurant you can’t afford.
The playoff got smarter. Now it’s Kentucky’s turn to catch up.