College Football Playoff Jumps to 24 Teams
ESPN pays $1.7 billion for the expansion, eliminating conference championships and restructuring the regular season schedule.
By Giulia Donovan ·
College football is abandoning the conference championship model in a massive structural shift. The College Football Playoff will double in size to 24 teams starting in 2027. This change ends a three-decade tradition of conference title games, which previously served as the primary gatekeepers for the postseason. The move effectively replaces the final regular-season week of conference play with an expanded playoff bracket that mirrors the scale of the NFL.
The format has grown steadily since its inception. The playoff launched in 2014 with four teams. It expanded to 12 teams in 2024. The Southeastern Conference preferred a 16-team model. The Big Ten pushed for a larger field. The Big Ten and Southeastern Conference leaders agreed to the 24-team structure after resolving financial concerns regarding the loss of conference title revenue.
ESPN secured the rights to the new games. The network agreed to a five-year deal worth an additional $1.7 billion. This amount stacks on top of its existing contract, which runs through the 2031 season and is valued at $7.8 billion. The new revenue stream offsets the estimated $345 million value of the canceled Power Four conference title games. ESPN will not owe $140 million in extra money due to the cancellation of those title games.
The new selection process includes five automatic qualifiers. These spots go to the champions of the four major conferences and the highest-ranked Group of Six team. A selection panel will choose the remaining 19 teams. The top eight seeds will receive first-round byes. The playoff will begin on the second weekend in December. The first two rounds will be played on campus. The Army-Navy game will move to the first weekend in December, a slot previously reserved for conference titles.
Power Four teams must play at least 10 qualifying regular-season games. These contests must be against conference opponents, other Power Four schools, or Notre Dame. Group of Six teams must play 10 games against conference rivals and a mix of other independents and Notre Dame. The regular season will now include two guaranteed off weeks and begin the week before Labor Day.
The first 24-team championship game is scheduled for Jan. 24, 2028, in New Orleans. Traditional bowl games will continue to host the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. Mark Keenum, president of Mississippi State and chair of the CFP board, said the expansion is great for college football. He added that the board looks forward to seeing the format come to life next season.
