Conference champs get preference in 1 playoff idea

(AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

CHICAGO (AP) Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany says a model being considered for a four-team college football playoff would give preference to conference champions ranked in the top-six nationally.

CBSSports.com reports that Delany spoke to a group of reporters during a meeting at the Big Ten headquarters in Chicago.

Various models for a four-team playoff will be considered by conferences over the next month. The focus will be on where and when the games will be played. After that is settled, how teams will be picked will be decided.

In the plan Delany discussed, a conference champion would automatically qualify for the playoff if ranked in the top six. If less than four conference champions were among the top six, the remaining spots would be filled by the highest ranked teams.

Updated May 2, 2012