FRISCO, Texas >> As administrators evaluate changes to the future of the College Football Playoff, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is adamant that the 5+11 model is the top choice of the conference.

The 2024 season was the first year of the CFP’s 12-team model, but there are discussions about expanding to a 16-team model at some point. Who gets into that playoff and the number of automatic qualifiers is up for debate.

The 5+11 model would give automatic bids to the five highest-ranked conference champions, followed by 11 at-large bids. The Big Ten and SEC have proposed a model that would include 12 automatic qualifiers — four each for the Big Ten and SEC, two each for the Big 12 and ACC and four at-large bids.

“We continue to believe the 5+11 model proposed by the Big 12 and the ACC is the right playoff format for college football,” Yormark said at Big 12 media days Tuesday at The Star. “We want to earn it on the field.”

A year ago, league champion Arizona State was the only Big 12 team to get into the 12-team playoff. It’s possible the 5+11 model won’t lead to a second Big 12 team in the playoff, either, but Yormark is confident that model will be best going forward.

“(The 5+11 model) might not be the best solution today for the Big 12 … but long term, knowing the progress we’re making, the investments we’re making, it’s the right format for us,” Yormark said. “And I’m doubling down today on 5+11 and I know (ACC commissioner) Jim Phillips will, and I’m sure some of the other conference commissioners will, as well.

“I’m confident we’ll get to the right place and, ultimately, I’m confident we’ll go to 5+11.”

Yormark acknowledged there aren’t any schools in the Big 12 who are currently among the “elite” programs, but, as he did a year ago, he said he believes the conference is the deepest in the country.

Athlon magazine, for example, doesn’t have any Big 12 teams among its preseason top 12 but has four teams — Kansas State, Arizona State, Texas Tech and Iowa State — in the top 25 and nine teams in its top 37. Lindy’s has six Big 12 teams in its preseason top 25, but none higher than No. 14 (ASU).

“I think parity matters, and I think ultimately, over time — and it’s hopefully sooner than later — there will be a couple of our schools that will emerge as elite schools that are always part of the conversations at the highest levels,” he said. “And that’s what we’re working towards. But it starts with parity and being competitive top to bottom, and I think we’re there. I think we’re the best in the country, when you think about how deep we are top to bottom. But, I do believe that, long term, you need certain schools to emerge to the top, and I think we’re getting there.”

Still, he believes the Big 12 has the ability to get more than one team into the 12-team CFP this year.

“I fully expect the Big 12 to earn multiple College Football Playoff bids this year, and to show once again that we can compete with anyone,” he said.

Yormark has led the Big 12 for three years and in that time has seen numerous changes. At the time he was hired, the Big 12 was a 10-team league with two of those teams — Oklahoma and Texas — on their way out to the SEC. Eight schools, including Colorado in 2024, have been added since Yormark came aboard. This upcoming season will be the Big 12’s second year as a 16-team league.

“(The 2024-25 season) exceeded even our highest expectations,” Yormark said. “Each of our 16 institutions contributed immense value to the conference.”

What the future holds isn’t known, but Yormark is pleased with the direction of the Big 12.

“I’m thrilled with where the Big 12 is right now,” he said. “(Three years ago), I said I wanted to modernize this conference. I wanted to be more contemporary. I wanted to get on the consciousness of future student-athletes. I wanted to create a foundation that would enable us to succeed. I wanted to be a national conference. I wanted to double down with ESPN and Fox. We’ve done all of that and more.

“I love the trajectory of this conference. I love where we’re going. Our schools are making incredible investments in infrastructure, performance and student-athletes. It’s everything I could have wished for when I took this job three years ago. But I will tell you, we’re just getting started. This conference today is not the best version of itself, but we will be sooner than later.”