The College Football Playoff is finally expanding after years of anticipation. On Friday, the CFP Board of Managers unanimously voted to expand the tournament from four teams to 12 by 2026. The new format will include the six highest-ranked conference champions, as well as six at-large teams.

The CFP expansion is not only exciting for college football fans but also gives many more teams a true shot at the national championship. Many schools across the country benefit from the College Football Playoff expansion, but a select few stand out from the pack.

3. Cincinnati football (and other Big 12 teams)

The Power Five conferences have had a stranglehold on the College Football Playoff since its inception. However, an imbalance exists even among the most powerful conferences in the sport. While the SEC, ACC and Big Ten are in the playoff almost every year, the Big 12 has lagged behind a bit.

Big 12 teams have made four appearances in the first eight seasons of the CFP. However, all four of those appearances belong to Oklahoma, and the Sooners have lost in the semifinals every time they made the dance. With Oklahoma and Texas, the conference’s biggest revenue generator, leaving for the SEC soon, the situation appeared dire for the Big 12.

Fortunately for the conference, the expanded playoff all but assures they will be present every year. Not only will existing members such as Baylor and Oklahoma State benefit from the new format, but so will new additions such as UCF and BYU. Of all the Big 12 teams though, Cincinnati, who joins the conference in 2023, will benefit the most.

The Bearcats made history in 2021, becoming the first Group of Five team to make the College Football Playoff. Although they lost to Alabama in the semifinal, appearing in the tournament at all marked a huge achievement for the program. With the CFP expansion and the Bearcats jumping up to the Big 12 soon, Cincinnati should be a playoff contender for years to come.