ESPN, College Football Playoff reach deal to expand field to 24 teams

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - The College Football Playoff (CFP) and ESPN have reached a five-year deal to expand the field to 24 teams beginning in 2027.

The deal is worth $1.7 billion, according to ESPN’s Heather Dinich, and will see ESPN continue to be the broadcast partner of the CFP.

The CFP Management Committee unanimously approved the change in format.

The new format will include the four conference champions from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and the SEC, the highest-ranked team from the American, Conference USA, Mountain West, Pac-12 or Sun Belt and the 19 highest ranked remaining teams in the final CFP rankings.

“The decision to expand was driven by a desire to increase opportunities for FBS programs, student-athletes and fan bases to participate in the Playoff and have a chance to play for the CFP National Championship,” the CFP said in a statement Monday. “The expanded format will feature 16 on-campus Playoff games, which will bring Playoff football to more students and local fans while providing a positive impact for campus communities.”

The final regular season games of the 2027 season will take place on Saturday, Nov. 27 with the 2027-28 Playoff beginning the first full week of December.

Playoff seeds nine through 16 will host a First Round game on campus against seeds 17-24. The First and Second Round games will be played on the Thursday-Saturday of their respective weekends.

The top eight seeds in the bracket will have two open weeks before playing their first playoff game.

The Quarterfinals and Semifinals will continue to be played at the Cotton Bowl Classic, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game and Sugar Bowl.

“We will make the 24-team Playoff spectacular for the fans, student-athletes, their institutions and all our stakeholders. That is our commitment,” said CFP Executive Director Rich Clark. “Our organization delivers a world-class championship experience at our games and our events, and this promise will continue under the new format. 23 games of Playoff football, featuring 24 ranked teams going head-to-head for the right to be crowned the true national champion.

The move to 24 teams will eliminate the Power 4 conference championship games, including the SEC Championship Game.

The 35th and final SEC Football Championship Game will take place Dec. 6 in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said December’s game will be a celebration of college football’s first conference championship game.

“The SEC Football Championship Game has been a defining event in college football for more than three decades, producing unforgettable moments and crowning legendary champions,” said Sankey. “What began with the vision and leadership of Commissioner Roy Kramer in 1992 helped reshape the landscape of college football and established a tradition that has endured for 35 years. We look forward to celebrating the remarkable legacy of this event with its 35^th and final edition.”

The College Football Playoff announced Monday the adoption of new scheduling standards that “will incentivize institutions to schedule additional compelling non-conference, regular season matchups.”

Power Four conference teams must play at least 10 qualifying regular season games consisting of conference games and non-conference games against other Power Four teams and Notre Dame. Group of Six teams must play at least 10 games against conference opponents, G6 or P4 apponents, Notre Dame or other independents.

The College Football Playoff Selection Committee will not give any weight to a win over more than one FCS opponent.

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