The present disclosure is directed to novel carbocyclic compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, Ra, Rb, n, m and p are as defined herein, which are active as modulators of retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt). These compounds prevent, inhibit, or suppress the action of RORγt and are therefore useful in the treatment of RORγt mediated diseases, disorders, syndromes or conditions such as, e.g., pain, inflammation, COPD, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.