What is the Group of 5 in college football? Explaining the conferences with CFP automatic bid

The College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams before the 2024 season. The expanded format allows more teams to earn bids, but what makes it especially notable is the automatic inclusion of a Group of 5 school. In this system, a Group of 5 team, a program from a non-power conference, is guaranteed a spot in the bracket. In 2024, Boise State made history as the first Group of 5 school to earn a bid under the new system.

What is the Group of 5 in college football?

The Group of 5 represents five of college football's non-power conferences. The power conferences are the SEC, ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12.

The Group of 5 includes the American Athletic Conference (AAC), Conference USA (C-USA), Mid-American Conference (MAC), Mountain West Conference (MW), and Sun Belt Conference (SBC). Technically it also includes the Pac-12, which now just has two members in Oregon State and Washington State. But for this, we'll focus on the five, true non-power conferences.

Together, these conferences comprise 65 member schools. Here is a look at each Group of 5 conference and its member schools.

Group of 5 conferences

Here's a look at each Group of 5 conference and their respective member schools. 

American Athletic Conference (AAC)

Conference USA (CUSA)

Mid-American Conference (MAC) 

Mountain West Conference (MWC) 

Sun Belt Conference (SBC)

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How College Football Playoff automatic qualifiers work

In the expanded 12-team playoff, the five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed bids. Four of those spots will go to the power-conference champions from the SEC, ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12. The fifth spot goes to the highest-ranked Group of 5 school, which automatically earns a place in the field.

If the Group of 5 team is already in the top 12, its seed matches its ranking. If it is outside the top 12, it is automatically placed at No. 12.

Group of 5 history in College Football Playoff

Boise State was the first Group of 5 school to make the playoff, earning the No. 3 seed in 2024 after finishing 12-1 as Mountain West champions.

In the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal, Boise State fell 31-14 to Penn State. Under the previous four-team playoff from 2014-2023, Group of 5 teams were generally left out, with the exception of Cincinnati in 2021. The Bearcats became the first non-power conference team to make the playoff, earning the No. 4 seed after a 13-0 season and winning the AAC, before losing 27-6 to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl semifinal.

Best Group of 5 teams in 2025

As the regular season winds down, there are a few G5 teams that are in the mix for a playoff bid. In the CFP rankings released on Nov. 18, Tulane was ranked No. 24, but seeded 12th. In the hypothetical bracket, the Green Wave would face No. 5 Texas Tech in Lubbock in the first round: 

According to Allstate's Playoff Predictor, Tulane has a 46% chance to make the 12-team field, but just a 19.6% chance per ESPN's FPI. The Green Wave are 8-2 on the season, with two losses to playoff team Ole Miss and UTSA. Tulane has a great shot to win the AAC this season. 

Also in the AAC, the North Texas Mean Green are in the mix to win the conference. The Mean Green are 9-1 on the season, with a loss to South Florida. The playoff predictor gives North Texas a 42% chance to make the 12-team field, with FPI giving 41.7. UNT is tied at second in the ACC behind Tulane and Navy. 

There is also a team from the Sun Belt in the mix, in James Madison. The Dukes are 9-1 on the season, with a loss to Louisville earlier in the season. JMU is sitting at first place in the Sun Belt East standings, with remaining games against Washington State and Coastal Carolina. Allstate's playoff predictor gives JMU a 46% chance to make the playoff, 46.2% in FPI.