Dickert Criticizes Loss of Conference Title Games
Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert weighed in as the College Football Playoff expands to 24 teams and eliminates conference championship games next season.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Football
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Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert criticized the elimination of conference championship games as the College Football Playoff expands to 24 teams next season. The Demon Deacons were ranked No. 16 in the initial CFP rankings last week.
Why it matters
The expanded playoff format forces conferences to restructure their championship systems, changing how teams qualify for the postseason. Under the 24-team field, some teams may avoid elimination games that others are required to play.
The College Football Playoff field grows from its current size to 24 teams next season. Wake Forest sat at No. 16 in the initial CFP rankings, and the second edition of the top 25 is due Tuesday night.
The players
Jake Dickert
Jake Dickert is the head football coach at Wake Forest University, known for leading the Demon Deacons' recent rise in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
College Football Playoff
The College Football Playoff is the postseason system that determines the national champion of NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.
The details
Dickert weighed in Monday on the decision to eliminate conference championship games under the new playoff structure. The change is part of the broader expansion of the College Football Playoff beginning next season.
Timeline
Last week: Wake Forest ranked No. 16 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings.
Monday: Dickert criticized the elimination of conference championship games.
Tuesday night: The second edition of the top 25 rankings is scheduled for release.
Next season: The College Football Playoff expands to 24 teams.
Season Trajectory
The College Football Playoff's expansion to 24 teams, a major overhaul from the former four-team format, reshapes how programs qualify for the postseason. Eliminating conference championship games removes a traditional path that many mid-tier programs relied on to earn playoff consideration.
Wake Forest's position in the rankings Tuesday night will determine how close the Demon Deacons are to the 24-team playoff field under the new format. Fans tracking playoff eligibility should watch that update closely.
The takeaway
The end of conference championship games under the expanded playoff means teams must earn their place through rankings rather than a single title game, a shift that will reward consistent records across the full season.
What happens next
The second edition of the top 25 rankings is scheduled for Tuesday night, which will show where Wake Forest lands after its initial No. 16 ranking.
Further reading
For more on Wake Forest's season, see Winston-Salem Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by On3.
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