The end of an era for the four-team CFP format and Pac-12 football

The GIST: Thanks to the shifting landscape of college sports, Monday’s natty marked the end of two eras: the four-team CFP and Pac-12 football.

The CFP expansion: Next year, the CFP will abandon its 10-year-old model, expanding from four to 12 playoff contenders. The new bracket-style tournament adds eight more playoff games and likely more postseason enthusiasm, viewership, and advertising money.

• Will the expanded format help avoid wild playoff snubs (and a firestorm of criticism)? There will always be bubble teams who don’t make the field, but this update brings more squads into the title hunt — which means more end-of-season drama.

The Pac-12’s final snap: Driven by Pac-12 football programs’ dissatisfaction with their media rights deal, last summer’s conference realignment bonanza means the Pac-12 gridiron — with its tradition of legendary QBs and after-dark gong shows — is officially closed for business. A whopping 10 of its 12 member schools will bail for other “Power” conferences by next fall — with other sports dragged along for the ride.

• The remaining Pac-2 — Washington State and Oregon State — have two academic years to rebuild the conference. In the meantime, they’ll compete with the Mountain West in football and the West Coast Conference in everything else.

• As for the departing teams, four will land in the Big Ten, four in the Big 12, and two in the ACC next season. Whether the new digs (and intense travel schedules) pan out remains to be seen, but truth and time tell all.