College Football Playoff Set for Major Expansion to 24 Teams Next Season
The College Football Playoff will expand to 24 teams starting next season, doubling its size and introducing a new format with automatic qualifiers and a selection committee, following a revised broadcast deal with ESPN that includes additional games and revenue.
Miami Fort Lauderdale, FL, November 9, 2026 — The College Football Playoff (CFP) is preparing for a significant expansion, set to grow to 24 teams beginning with the next season. This expansion will double the current number of participating teams, marking a substantial shift in the format of the postseason college football tournament.
The new structure will incorporate automatic qualifiers, ensuring that conference champions receive berths in the expanded playoff. A selection committee will also play a role in determining the remaining spots, a process that has been a key element in previous CFP selections.
This expansion follows the finalization of a revised broadcast agreement with ESPN. The new deal is expected to include provisions for additional games due to the increased number of teams and is anticipated to generate increased revenue for the participating conferences and institutions.
Further details regarding the specific format, including the exact number of automatic qualifiers and the selection process timeline, are expected to be announced. The decision to expand the playoff field reflects a broader trend in major collegiate sports towards larger championship tournaments, driven in part by lucrative media rights deals.
The implications of this expansion for team selection, schedule balance, and the overall competitive landscape of college football are anticipated to be significant. The CFP has undergone several iterations since its inception, and this latest change represents the most substantial alteration to its structure to date.
Story summarized from the original created by Associated Press on wsvn.com, see more information here.
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