The College Football Playoff is nearing an agreement to expand from 12 to 24 teams starting in 2027. The deal, reported by ESPN, is pending final approvals and would reshape postseason scheduling.
The College Football Playoff (CFP) is nearing a deal to expand its field from 12 teams to 24, beginning with the 2027 season. According to ESPN, the agreement is "expected to come together in the near future," pending final approvals. This expansion would double the size of the current playoff, which has been in its third year of a 12-team format during the 2026 season.
Under the proposed structure, the first two rounds of games would be played on home field sites, while the quarterfinals, semifinals, and national championship would take place on neutral sites. The top eight seeds would receive a bye in the first round. Seeds nine through 16 would host opening-round games against seeds 17 through 24.
The field would include the four Power Four conference champions, the highest-ranked Group of Six team, and 19 at-large selections. The Group of Six conferences are the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12, and Sun Belt. Notre Dame can also earn an automatic bid if it finishes among the top 24 teams in the final rankings.
A significant component of the expansion is the potential elimination of conference championship games for the Power Four conferences. Sources briefed on the situation told On3's Pete Nakos that the deal would "likely" eliminate these games, leaving leagues to determine their champions through standings and tiebreakers. The Group of Six conferences are not required to eliminate their championship games, and some have privately expressed a desire to keep them, according to ESPN.
The New Year’s Six bowls would continue to host the quarterfinals and semifinals. ESPN, which holds the broadcast rights through the 2031 season, will reportedly buy the additional games from the 24-team playoff. Currently, ESPN sublicenses a portion of the playoff to TNT.
The expansion follows months of negotiation between the Big Ten and SEC, which had previously disagreed on the format. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey stated this week that a decision would likely come "sooner rather than later." Sankey previously advocated for a 16-team format, stating, "When we've talked as a league, we think the move to 16 is the next right step that provides 11 at-larges, it honors conference champions."
Former Alabama coach Nick Saban also expressed support for a 16-team model, citing player welfare. "I do think we need to take the player into consideration, not just the financial circumstances of increasing the Playoff," Saban said on Get Up. "Now you can potentially play 17 (games). So if you go anything beyond 16, to me, you're adding games without eliminating conference championship games."
The official deadline to change next season's playoff format is Dec. 1. The 2027 CFP National Championship is scheduled for Jan. 25 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The move to 24 teams would significantly alter the college football landscape by increasing postseason opportunities for more programs while reducing the stakes of conference championship games for the Power Four leagues. It creates a longer path to the title, with teams potentially playing up to 17 games in a season. The expansion also impacts broadcast rights and scheduling, as ESPN secures additional games and other bowls may need to reinvent themselves to remain relevant.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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