College Football Playoff reportedly near deal to expand to 24 teams in 2027 - Yahoo Sports
The College Football Playoff is reportedly nearing a deal to expand from 12 to 24 teams by the 2027 season. Negotiations between the CFP and ESPN are ongoing as stakeholders work to finalize the format and broadcast rights.
Why it matters
Expansion significantly increases the number of high-stakes games, impacting collegiate athletic revenue and the structure of the postseason.
College Football Playoff expansion is almost here.
According to ESPN — the network that holds the broadcast rights to the current 12-team playoff — the CFP is "nearing a deal" to double the size of the field to 24 teams and that the agreement "is expected to come together in the near future."
The 2026 season is the third year of the 12-team playoff. The playoff was implemented ahead of the 2014 season and had a four-team field for its first 10 seasons.
Further playoff expansion has slowly become an inevitability in recent months after the Big Ten and SEC have haggled over the future format of the postseason. ESPN's current contract to televise the CFP goes through the 2031 season, and the network will reportedly buy the additional games from the 24-team playoff.
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