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Archived story · published November 9, 2026. Coverage reflects reporting at the time. See today's brief

Sports · November 9, 2026

College Football Playoff doubles up, expands to 24 teams beginning next season

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The College Football Playoff (CFP) will expand to a 24-team format starting in 2027, under a five-year, $1.7 billion agreement with ESPN. This expansion replaces the current 12-team system and will eliminate Power Four conference championship games, which have been a fixture of the sport for decades. The new '19+4+1' model provides automatic bids to the four Power Four conference champions and the highest-ranked Group of Six champion, with the remaining 19 spots filled by at-large bids. The top eight teams will receive first-round byes, and the first two rounds will be hosted at campus stadiums, while quarterfinals and semifinals will remain at traditional bowl sites. While the move is expected to generate significant revenue, it has faced criticism from figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who labeled the expansion 'short-sighted'.

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Reported by multiple outlets

  • The College Football Playoff will expand to a 24-team format starting in the 2027 season.
  • The expansion is part of a five-year deal with ESPN valued at approximately $1.7 billion.
  • Power Four conference championship games will be eliminated under the new format.
  • The 24-team field will include automatic bids for the four Power Four champions and the highest-ranked Group of Six champion.
  • There will be 19 at-large bids selected by a panel.
  • The top eight teams will receive first-round byes.
  • First- and second-round games will be played at campus sites.
  • Quarterfinals and semifinals will be played at traditional bowl locations.

Reported by only some outlets

  • The Heisman Trophy ceremony is expected to move forward one week to the first weekend of December.
  • The SEC announced its 2026 conference title game will be its last.
  • ESPN will reportedly pay an additional $345 million per year for the expanded field.
  • Power Four champions will now be determined by regular-season standings and conference tiebreakers.
  • The Group of Six includes the American Athletic, Sun Belt, Mid-America, Mountain West, Pac-12, and Conference USA.

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