College Football Playoff To Expand to 24 Teams Beginning in 2027 Season

The College Football Playoff (CFP) is set to broaden its scope to include 24 teams starting in the 2027 season, according to a recent ESPN report. This expansion comes after the CFP and ESPN signed a five-year, almost $1.7 billion agreement to support the increased format, with ESPN retaining its broadcasting role. The additional media rights value bolsters the existing $7.8 billion media rights deal for the 12-team setup, which remains in place until 2032.

The transition to 24 teams will extend the playoff bracket by an additional week and disband Power 4 conference championship games following this year's season. The Army-Navy game will be rescheduled to the second Saturday in December, previously occupied by conference championship games. The decision to expand follows months of negotiations, with the SEC and Big Ten ultimately deciding on the new format.

Earlier, various formats for a 16 or 24-team playoff were discussed, with the Big Ten championing the 24-team option. Conference leaders, including the ACC and Big 12, have shown support for the expansion, while the SEC, led by commissioner Greg Sankey, remains concerned about the impact on the regular season and conference championship games' financial significance.

The College Football Playoff was initially launched in 2014 with four teams, expanded to 12 teams in 2024, and now, for the first time, the focus is on transitioning to a 24-team model.