College Football Expands to 24 Teams, ESPN Deal Signed

The College Football Playoff (CFP) will expand to a 24-team field starting in 2027, following a new five-year agreement with ESPN valued at nearly $1.7 billion. This seismic shift also signals the end of the Power 4 conference championship games.

The college football season will commence with 'Week Zero' before Labor Day and conclude on Thanksgiving weekend. Selection Day is set for Sunday, November 28, 2027, with the national championship game scheduled for January 24, 2028.

The expanded playoff will feature 19 at-large bids, the champions of the Power 4 conferences, and the highest-ranked Group of 6 team. Notre Dame will no longer receive an automatic bid unless they earn an at-large spot.

Teams seeded 1-8 will receive first-round byes and host home playoff games. The playoff begins in early December 2027, with the championship concluding on January 24, 2028, in New Orleans.

New Year's Six bowls will host the quarterfinals and semifinals. The Big Ten has been a proponent of the 24-team model, asserting that "tiered incentives" will maintain the regular season's value.

The Army-Navy game will now occupy conference championship game weekend, with a standalone broadcast on December 4. The Heisman Trophy ceremony is anticipated for later that evening.

This expansion follows the field's tripling to 12 teams just two seasons prior. In March 2024, ESPN and the CFP finalized an $7.8 billion contract through the 2031-32 season.

ESPN will pay an additional $345 million annually for the expanded playoff, on top of their existing $1.3 billion annual payment. This new payment is partially offset by savings from the cancellation of conference championship games.

Fox is also expected to receive approximately $50 million annually in compensation for the cancellation of the Big Ten title game. The CFP quarterfinals and semifinals will proceed as previously announced, with specific bowl game assignments.