It didn't take long into the start of Day 1 of Big 12 Media Days for league commissioner Brett Yormark to make a splash. Yormark was first on the stage, and in his opening statement, made a bold claim amid college football conferences battling for superiority.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has become the loudest supporter of a 5+11 format for the College Football Playoff in 2026 and beyond. The proposed format of a 16-team playoff consisting of five automatic qualifiers for conference champions and 11 at-large bids was Yormark’s top talking point Tuesday to start Big 12 Media Days in Frisco,

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark is doubling down on his preference to stay with just five automatic qualifiers if the College Football Playoff does expand from 12 to 16 teams as many expect after this season,