WVU’s Wren Baker Sounds Off on CFP Proposal That Favors SEC and Big Ten

WVU’s Wren Baker Criticizes CFP Proposal Favoring SEC and Big Ten

West Virginia’s athletic director Wren Baker has strongly opposed the College Football Playoff (CFP) proposal that would heavily favor the SEC and Big Ten. He called the 4-4-2-2-1 model, which these two conferences are advocating for, a “non-starter” for the ACC and Big 12.

The CFP format is set for expansion, but the specifics of how it will look, including how many teams will be included, are still being debated. The Big Ten and SEC are pushing for more access to the playoff, while the ACC and Big 12 argue for a more equitable system.

Here’s the breakdown of the two competing models:

• The Big Ten/SEC propose a 4-4-2-2-1 format, giving each league four automatic bids in a 16-team playoff, with the Big 12 and ACC receiving two bids each. The remaining spot would go to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion, with three at-large bids left for other teams.

• The Big 12/ACC are pushing for a 5+11 model, where each Power Four conference champion and the highest-ranked Group of Five champion receive automatic bids, leaving 11 at-large bids available.

While both models have drawbacks, the Big Ten/SEC’s proposal has drawn heavy criticism. Baker joined in on the criticism during his appearance on 3 Guys Before the Game, explaining why the 4-4-2-2-1 plan would harm college football.

“I think it’s really important that we push back on that,” Baker said. “The issue with guaranteeing two automatic bids is that it creates uncertainty. If you only have two, some years you might get one, some years you might get three. Having at least two gives you a sense of security.”

He also pointed out the potential for wild-card-like scenarios in which the third and fourth automatic bids are decided in a “play-in” style game between ranked teams, turning championship weekend into a de facto playoff spot decider. Baker argued that this setup would ultimately be unfair and reward conferences with more automatic bids than they deserve in certain years.

“America doesn’t want this. It’s just not fair, and it goes against the spirit of competition,” he added. “You earn your place on the field, not through a guaranteed spot based on conference affiliation. The 4-4-2-2 model should be a non-starter for the Big 12 and ACC.”

Baker’s stance reflects a broader concern that automatic bids based on conference affiliation would undermine the integrity of college football. He pointed out that no other major sports league hands out automatic playoff spots purely based on conference membership, and this proposal would likely lead to an unfair advantage for Big Ten and SEC schools, especially in recruiting.

He warned that this system could effectively turn the playoff into a Big Ten/SEC Invitational, where schools in those conferences would have greater access to the playoff simply because of their league affiliation.

In the end, Baker’s comments highlight the importance of keeping the CFP selection process fair, competitive, and truly based on merit, rather than conference power.