College Football Playoff to Expand to 24 Teams in 2027
The field will grow significantly, with more games potentially played on campus sites.
The College Football Playoff is set to expand to 24 teams beginning in the 2027 season, marking a substantial increase from its current 12-team format. This change follows just three years after the playoff's initial expansion to 12 teams.
ESPN is reportedly finalizing a deal to broadcast the expanded playoff, acquiring rights to the additional games. The network's current agreement with the College Football Playoff runs through 2031. Sources indicate that a meeting between ESPN and College Football Playoff representatives on Thursday will seal the agreement.
The expanded 24-team bracket is expected to include 19 at-large bids. The five automatic bids will be allocated with one for each of the Power Four conferences and a fifth for a Group of Six team.
A notable aspect of the expanded playoff will be the format for the early rounds. The first two rounds of the tournament are slated to be played on college campuses.
The expansion is also expected to influence the college football calendar. It is anticipated that 2026 will be the final year for conference championship games across the Power Four and Group of Six conferences. Consequently, the number of bowl games is likely to decrease starting in 2027.
Discussions regarding the expansion have involved key conferences, with the SEC and Big Ten being among the last to reach a decision. ESPN holds the television rights for the SEC, while the Big Ten's broadcast deal is with FOX, potentially creating an interesting dynamic in the negotiations.
The SEC has already adjusted its schedule, moving to a nine-game conference schedule in preparation for future changes. The Big Ten may also see changes, with a potential mandate for teams to add a Power Four opponent to their non-conference schedules.