College Football Playoff to expand to 24 teams in 2027

Sport · First reported 9 Nov, 16:47 · Updated 16:55

Image: Wikimedia Commons · Ysherazi · CC BY-SA 4.0

The CFP plans to double its field from 12 to 24 teams starting in 2027, with changes to bids, game locations and conference championship games. Coverage differs on whether the change represents expanded access or a money-driven trade-off.

The CFP announced a 24-team format for 2027, doubling the current 12-team field; the new format is set to run for at least five seasons.
The field will include automatic places for the four Power 4 champions and the highest-ranked Group of 6 team, plus 19 at-large bids; the top eight teams receive byes.
The change means the Power 4 will no longer hold conference championship games under the new rules, while the Army-Navy game will move to the week those games previously occupied.

Summary written by Lux AI from 2 articles

Key facts

New format begins: 2027 season
Field size: 24 teams, up from 12
At-large bids: 19
Campus playoff games: 16 of 23, according to the right-side article
Reported deal value: Nearly $1.7 billion over five years, according to the right-side article
Power 4 conferences named: Big Ten, SEC, ACC and Big 12