College Football Playoff Expansion to 24 Teams and New Deal with ESPN

The College Football Playoff (CFP) will undergo significant changes in 2027. A new five-year, $1.7 billion contract with ESPN will support the expansion to 24 teams. This expansion agreement will phase out the Power 4 conference championship games.

Last week, the CFP announced that its decision to expand was nearing completion. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported the network is set to pay an additional $345 million annually for this expansion. On November 6, the CFP stated that a formal agreement is being finalized, with a decision forthcoming after the review process.

The expanded format will feature the Power 4 conference champions along with the top-ranked Group of 6 team and 19 at-large selections. Early-round games will occur at campus sites. Quarterfinals and semifinals will move to bowl locations, culminating in the national championship game. Teams ranked 1 through 8 will receive first-round byes, hosting their subsequent games at their own venues.

Currently, the CFP involves 12 teams, a structure introduced in 2024. Before this, starting in 2014, the playoff field included just four teams.