Urban Meyer has never been shy about making bold statements, and his latest stance could reshape one of the most debated systems in college sports. Appearing on OutKick with Dan Dakich, the three-time national champion head coach argued that the College Football Playoff should eliminate the selection committee and chairman Yurachek entirely to embrace an automatic-qualifier model.
For Meyer, the solution is simple: stop guessing, stop debating, and let results, not human opinion, determine postseason access.
Urban Meyer Endorses Tony Petitti’s 4-4-2-2-1-1 Model
Meyer threw his full support behind Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti’s proposed 4-4-2-2-1-1 playoff structure, an access-based model that mirrors professional postseason formats and reduces subjective decision-making.
The College Football Playoff should GET RID of the Committee, says @CoachUrbanMeyer @dandakich pic.twitter.com/csqrdsvHti
— OutKick (@Outkick) December 6, 2025
Under the proposal:
- 4 Big Ten teams
- 4 SEC teams
- 2 Big 12 teams
- 2 ACC teams
- 1 Group of Five representative
- 3 at-large bids
Meyer believes this removes ambiguity, provides transparency, and rewards conference performance rather than committee perception.
He even outlined how the Big Ten’s four berths would be earned:
Big Ten Championship Game: No. 1 vs. No. 2- both automatically in
3 vs. 6- winner gets in
4 vs. 5- winner gets in
In Meyer’s words, “Just play it out.” No debates, no weekly reveals, no contradictions.
A Growing Divide Among Conferences
While Meyer and Petitti are aligned, the rest of college football’s power brokers are not.
Big 12 Stance: 5+11 Model
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark supports the 5+11 system, which guarantees five conference champions but offers fewer locked-in spots for the Big 12 versus other proposals. He calls it “fair” because it balances access without heavily favoring the biggest leagues. So 5 conference champions and then 11 at-large bids.
ACC Perspective
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips is flexible, open to either a 14-team or 16-team expansion but only if five automatic bids are guaranteed for conference champions. So the ACC prefers a model similar to what the Big 12 offered up.
SEC and Big Ten
Both leagues prefer expansion models granting greater access to their deeper, stronger conferences, hence the 4-4-2-2-1-1 structure. But, the SEC doesn't fully agree with the exact model Petitti offered up as the SEC commissioner believes they could garner even more teams to get in and not be limited to the 4 auto-bids.
The disconnect is clear: Every conference wants expansion, but none agree on how it should be structured.
Why Meyer Believes the CFP Committee Must Go
Meyer argued that the committee creates unnecessary inconsistency and removes incentives for teams to schedule aggressively. His point is if postseason selection is subjective, teams will avoid challenging schedules and instead focus on:
- Maximizing wins
- Minimizing losses
- Will focus on one or two “statement games” within conference play
This, Meyer says, hurts fans, hurts competition, and hurts college football.
This season’s Miami vs. Notre Dame debate as a prime example. Both teams share similar records and comparable résumés. Miami beat Notre Dame head-to-head, yet sits behind the Irish in the rankings despite the committee claiming that head-to-head results are a major factor. Same thing applies for the Texas Longhorns against Ohio State week 1. If they have two losses instead of three are they in? To Meyer, this inconsistency proves why the CFP should no longer rely on opinion.
A Playoff Heading Toward Change
With momentum growing for a 14- or 16-team playoff and commissioners pushing for auto-bid models, the days of the selection committee may be numbered. Whether the sport shifts toward Petitti’s system, the Big 12’s preference, the ACC’s structure, or something in between, the message from coaches, players, analysts, and now Urban Meyer is clear: College football wants clarity, not guesswork.
Meyer’s push to remove the committee adds yet another influential voice to the ongoing debate, and as the playoff continues to evolve, his vision may be closer to reality than many expect.