College Football Playoff nearing future 24-team format

The College Football Playoff will soon expand from 12 teams to 24.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the CFP is close to a deal to expand to 24 teams, and the new format will begin in the 2027 college football season. The CFP is also finalizing a deal with ESPN to purchase the additional CFP games through the 2031 season.

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A 24-team playoff has been expected for some time; it was just a matter of when. Heck, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said earlier this week that there is an “openness” to CFP expansion and expected a decision soon.

What does a 24-team CFP format mean?

Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti holds up the trophy as the team celebrates winning the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images

More teams from each of the Power Four conferences will be able to make it going forward. There’s also a chance that some of the conference championship games at the end of the regular season go away.

For example, once the regular season ends, we might go right into the CFP. Some of the first-round games could be played at the higher seed’s school before the neutral site games come into play in the later rounds.

As for this season’s CFP, it will stay at 12 teams and will have the same format as last year’s.

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Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.