While the expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP) to 16 teams is generally viewed as a positive for increasing access and excitement, the specific structure being discussed, particularly the emphasis on automatic bids for the SEC and Big Ten, could indeed create challenges and disadvantages for the Big 12 and ACC.

Here's how a 16-team CFP with four automatic bids each for the SEC and Big Ten could hurt the Big 12 and ACC:

Reduced Access and Fewer At-Large Opportunities:

Limited Spots: With the proposed structure often including four automatic qualifiers (AQs) for the SEC and Big Ten, two each for the ACC and Big 12, and one for the Group of Five, that accounts for 13 of the 16 spots. This leaves only three at-large bids for the remaining teams across all conferences, including those who didn't win their conference championship or didn't finish in the top few of the SEC and Big Ten.
Squeezed Out Good Teams: Highly-ranked teams from the Big 12 and ACC who don't win their conference championship, even with stellar records, could be squeezed out of the playoff by the sheer volume of automatic qualifiers from the SEC and Big Ten. This diminishes the value of regular-season success for those conferences.
Devalued Conference Championships:

Less Meaning for Top Teams: If the top four teams in the SEC and Big Ten are guaranteed playoff spots regardless of their conference championship game outcome (through automatic bids or high at-large consideration), the significance of winning the Big Ten or SEC title could be lessened for those elite programs.
ACC and Big 12 Championship Stakes Raised (Disproportionately): For the ACC and Big 12, with fewer guaranteed spots, winning the conference championship becomes almost a necessity for playoff inclusion for most teams outside the very top. This creates a higher pressure scenario compared to the SEC and Big Ten.
Recruiting Disadvantages:

Perception of Easier Path: The perception among recruits might shift further towards the SEC and Big Ten, believing those conferences offer a more guaranteed path to the playoff due to the higher number of automatic bids. This could make it even more challenging for Big 12 and ACC schools to compete for the top talent.
Financial Implications: If the perception is that the SEC and Big Ten have more guaranteed CFP access, it could further solidify their higher revenue shares and potentially widen the financial gap with the Big 12 and ACC, impacting recruiting budgets and overall program investment.
Potential for Less Intriguing Matchups:

More SEC/Big Ten Heavy Brackets: A scenario with four automatic bids each for the SEC and Big Ten could lead to a disproportionate representation from those two conferences in the playoff, potentially leading to more frequent rematches and less geographic diversity in the later rounds.
The Argument Against "Earned Access":

Diluting the Importance of Regular Season: Critics of this proposed format argue that heavily favoring automatic bids, especially for the SEC and Big Ten, dilutes the importance of the entire regular season. Teams within those conferences could have multiple losses and still make the playoff due to the sheer number of AQ slots.
Undermining the "Best Teams" Concept: The CFP is ostensibly designed to pit the best teams against each other. A format that prioritizes conference affiliation over overall ranking and record could lead to less deserving teams making the field.
Big 12 and ACC Leverage:

It's important to note that the commissioners of the Big 12 (Brett Yormark) and ACC will likely fight for a format that provides more equitable access for their conferences. The final structure of a 16-team CFP is still under negotiation. However, the initial proposals with a heavy emphasis on SEC and Big Ten automatic bids present a clear potential disadvantage for the Big 12 and ACC in terms of access, recruiting, and the overall value proposition for their top teams. They would likely advocate for more at-large bids or a different distribution of automatic qualifiers to ensure their deserving teams have a fair shot at competing for a national championship.

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