College Football Playoff to Expand to 24 Teams in 2027

Sport · First reported 9 Nov, 14:22 · Updated 20:46

Image: Wikimedia Commons · NASA Johnson Space Center · Public domain

A five-year CFP–ESPN media-rights deal sets a 24-team playoff beginning in 2027, with five automatic bids and 19 at-large places. The expansion also brings campus-hosted games and changes to conference championships and scheduling, while some selection and qualification details remain undecided.

The CFP approved a 24-team format for 2027, with five automatic qualifiers and 19 at-large selections; the eight highest seeds receive first-round byes.
The four Power Four conferences said their 2026 title games will be their last, while the Group of Six conferences had not decided whether to end theirs.
The article says 16 of the 23 playoff games will be played on campus; details of the expanded selection process and some scheduling questions remain unsettled.

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Key facts

Expansion begins: 2027
Playoff field: 24 teams: five automatic qualifiers and 19 at-large selections
ESPN agreement: Five-year media-rights deal; the article reports a value of nearly $1.7 billion
Campus games: 16 of 23 playoff games
Power Four title games: 2026 is to be the final season for the annual games