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College Football Playoff nears deal to expand format to 24 teams

Conferences and media partners are finalizing an agreement to expand the College Football Playoff field to 24 teams starting in 2027.

FTMQ Sports, written by our newsroom0 views

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Picture: Yahoo College Football

The College Football Playoff is close to finalizing a deal to double its field from 12 to 24 teams beginning in 2027, according to CBS Sports, ESPN, and Yahoo Sports. CBS Sports and ESPN both report that final approvals are still required before the agreement becomes official. [2][3][4][6][9]

The project is expected to feature a 19+4+1 model, according to CBS Sports. This breakdown includes 19 at-large spots, four places reserved for Power Four conference champions, and one spot for the top-rated Group of Six champion. Yahoo College Football reports that the expansion may take effect next year, while CBS Sports, ESPN, and other Yahoo outlets state that the launch date is planned for 2027. [1][2][4][6]

The new expanded postseason setup is expected to bring an end to conference championship games, according to CBS Sports and Yahoo Sports. CBS Sports noted that the 30-day negotiating window between playoff officials and broadcaster ESPN was recently extended to complete the television agreement for the expanded format. [2][3][4]

The tournament has undergone multiple structural revisions since its inception. ESPN broadcast the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship, which took place on January 8, 2024, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, to decide the champion of the 2023 season. [13]

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In short

  • The College Football Playoff is nearing an agreement to expand the postseason field to 24 teams.
  • The planned 24-team format is slated to begin in 2027, pending final approvals.
  • The expected structure features 19 at-large bids, four spots for Power Four champions, and one for the top Group of Six champion.
  • The expansion to 24 teams is expected to end college football conference championship games.

Sources

Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.

  1. [1]With move to 24-team Playoff, college football would fundamentally change foreverYahoo College Football, 1h ago (the report this story comes from)
  2. [2]College Football Playoff nears agreement on 24-team expansion that could end title gamesCBS College Football, 1h ago
  3. [3]College Football Playoff expansion: What would a 24-team bracket have looked like last season?CBS College Football, 5h ago
  4. [4]College Football Playoff set to expand to 24 teams, and conference championship games are endingYahoo Sports Top, 6h ago
  5. [5]How do you go from BCS nonsense to a 24-team College Football Playoff nobody wants? By not listening to fansYahoo Sports Top, 1h ago
  6. [6]College Football Playoff reportedly near deal to expand to 24 teams in 2027Yahoo Sports, 2h ago
  7. [7]College Football Playoff expanding to 24 teams: Good idea or too much?Yahoo Sports Top, 2h ago
  8. [8]The 24-team College Football Playoff has the same approval rating as New Coke. It’s coming anywayThe New York Times, 4h ago
  9. [9]Sources: College Football Playoff nearing deal for 24-team format in '27ESPN, 7h ago
  10. [10]College Football Playoff reportedly near deal to expand to 24 teams in 2027AOL.co.uk, 7h ago
  11. [11]Report: College Football Playoff near deal to expand to 24 teams in 2027Sports Business Journal, 6h ago
  12. [12]College Football Playoff to expand to 24-team starting in 2027 | ReportsYahoo, 6h ago

Background

  1. [13]2024 College Football Playoff National Championship on Wikipedia

Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 13 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.

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