College Football Playoff moving toward expansion from 12 to 24 teams in 2027: Sources

College Football Playoff decision-makers are nearing a deal with ESPN to expand the tournament to 24 teams starting next season, according to a person familiar with negotiations. If finalized, the move would be a major structural shift for the national championship, putting more games and postseason focus on deciding a winner. The CFP management committee—10 FBS conference commissioners plus Notre Dame athletic director—was scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss the talks. ESPN is expected to acquire all additional games. The 24-team concept originated from Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti’s staff in late summer 2025 after prior expansion efforts stalled. Under the proposed format, seeds 1-8 get byes and host a second-round game, while seeds 9-24 play at higher-seed campuses.