College Football: Playoff expands to 24 teams starting in 2027
ESPN agreed to pay an additional $1.7 billion over five years to secure exclusive broadcast rights for the expanded postseason.
By Adriana Abebe ·
College football will field 24 teams in its postseason starting next season. The College Football Playoff and ESPN announced the expansion on Monday, finalizing a deal that has been under discussion for months. This change increases the field size from 12 teams to 24 for the first time since the playoff format began in 2014.
The financial terms of the deal include a $1.7 billion payment from ESPN over five years. This amount is added to the original $7.8 billion contract that runs through the 2031 season. The new format guarantees automatic spots for the four Power Four conference champions. It also provides one automatic bid for the top team from the Group of Six. A selection committee will determine the remaining 19 participants.
The new structure eliminates conference championship games as the primary gateway to the postseason. The top eight seeds will receive first round byes. The playoff begins on the second weekend in December, with the first two rounds played on campus. The traditional Army Navy game will move to the first weekend in December. Quarterfinal and semifinal rounds will still take place in traditional bowl venues.
Power Four conferences will require their teams to play at least 10 regular season games against conference foes, other Power Four opponents, or Notre Dame. Group of Six teams must play 10 games against conference opponents. These scheduling rules aim to standardize strength of schedule for the selection committee. The regular season will begin the week before Labor Day and include two guaranteed off weeks.
Notre Dame loses its previous guarantee of a spot if ranked in the top 12. Coach Marcus Freeman described the change as a net positive for the independent program. He noted that the expanded field allows a team to sustain more losses while remaining competitive. The first championship game for the new format is scheduled for Jan. 24, 2028, in New Orleans.
ESPN Senior Vice President Nick Dawson acknowledged that the impact on regular season value is uncertain. He stated that fan reaction weighed into the decision. Dawson emphasized the network's intent to deliver a spectacular tournament. The Big Ten and Southeastern conferences supported the expansion to provide more motivation for their second tier teams to compete for playoff spots.
Coach Dave Odum of Purdue said the change helps teams in rebuilding phases by offering a clearer path to postseason play. Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell expressed confidence in the direction of the sport. He stated that if the governing bodies believe it is good for college football, he expects it to succeed. The selection committee will face increased scrutiny as it manages a larger bracket.
