The College Football Playoff (CFP) will expand to 24 teams starting in 2027, increasing from the current 12-team format. This expansion follows a meeting between representatives from ESPN and the College Football Playoff, where a deal is expected to be finalized for ESPN to broadcast the additional games. ESPN's current broadcasting rights for the CFP extend through 2031.
The 24-team playoff will include 19 at-large bids, with one automatic bid for each of the Power Four conferences and one for a Group of Six team. The first two rounds of the playoff will reportedly be held on college campuses.
The expansion is anticipated to mark the end of conference championship games for the Power Four and Group of Six conferences, as well as a reduction in the number of bowl games starting in 2027. The SEC and Big Ten conferences were the last to agree on the expansion, with ESPN holding the rights to the SEC and FOX contracted with the Big Ten. This change may also lead to Big Ten teams being required to schedule more challenging non-conference opponents, as indicated by sources. The SEC has already adopted a nine-game conference schedule ahead of the current college football season.