College Football Playoff expands to 24 teams for 2027 season

The College Football Playoff announced on Oct. 15, 2026 that the tournament will expand to 24 teams starting with the 2027 season.

The new structure, described as a 19+4+1 format, will offer 19 at‑large bids, one automatic bid for each of the Power Four conferences, and a final automatic bid for the highest‑ranked Group of Six team.

Under the plan, the Power Four conference championship games will be eliminated, and the first two rounds of the playoff will be played on participating schools’ campuses. The top eight seeds will receive first‑round byes and host second‑round games, while seeds nine through sixteen will host opening‑round contests.

The quarterfinals and semifinals will still be held at the traditional New Year’s Six bowl venues, preserving the marquee matchups that have defined the postseason.

Sources indicate that ESPN is poised to purchase the additional games, extending its existing broadcast contract through 2031. A meeting between ESPN representatives and playoff officials is slated for Thursday to finalize the financial terms.

Analysts note that the expansion likely marks the end of conference title games for the 2026 season, and that fewer bowl games are expected to be played beginning in 2027.

Conference leaders have reacted differently. The SEC moved to a nine‑game conference schedule ahead of the expansion and may see its championship game disappear. The Big Ten, whose media rights are with FOX, could be required to schedule more Power Four opponents in non‑conference play.

The College Football Playoff faces a Dec. 1 deadline to approve the changes, after which the 24‑team format would debut in the 2027 season.