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College Football Playoff Expansion Deadline Extended
25 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Playoff format decision deadline pushed to January 23, 2026.
- Discussions focus on playoff models, scheduling, and media.
- Consensus on expansion size and at-large selections remains elusive.
The College Football Playoff (CFP) and ESPN have jointly agreed to postpone the decision on the playoff format for 2026. The deadline has been moved from December 1 to January 23, 2026, to accommodate continued deliberations on potential future playoff models, scheduling, media considerations, and overall long-term strategy.
This extension provides crucial additional time for the CFP Management Committee to evaluate the current 12-team format and ensure any proposed modifications are thoroughly considered. The expansion to 12 teams is already in place for the 2024 season, but significant debate persists regarding further expansion, with speculation about a 16-team field.
Disagreements among conferences, particularly regarding automatic bids and at-large selections, have complicated consensus-building. The Jan. 23 deadline, set after the national championship game, gives stakeholders nearly two months to reach an agreement, otherwise the playoff may remain at 12 teams.
