The College Football Playoff is officially expanding to a 24-team format beginning with the 2027 season, according to sources who spoke with CBS Sports. This significant structural change marks the next step in the evolution of the sport's postseason, following the introduction of a 12-team field in 2024.
The new structure will utilize a 19+4+1 model to determine the participants. Nineteen teams will receive at-large bids, while four spots are reserved for the champions of the Power Four conferences. Additionally, one bid is allocated for the highest-rated champion from the Group of Six. First and second-round matchups will be hosted on the campuses of the participating schools, whereas the quarterfinal and semifinal games will continue to be held in traditional venues such as the Sugar, Rose, and Cotton Bowls.
A major consequence of this expansion is the elimination of conference championship games, a popular and lucrative tradition in college football. The Southeastern Conference originated this format in 1992, generating approximately $100 million in annual revenue. The SEC confirmed on Monday that its 2026 championship game, which will feature Alabama and Georgia, will be the final edition. Last year's matchup drew an average of 16.9 million viewers, ranking as the seventh-most watched game of the season.
With the removal of conference titles, the Heisman Trophy ceremony will be moved up by one week to the first weekend of December. In 2027, the event is scheduled for the weekend of December 3 through 5. This shift creates an open week following the conclusion of the regular season in late November, allowing the playoff to commence during the first full week of December.
The path to this 24-team structure involved extensive negotiations between the Big Ten and the SEC, the two most powerful conferences in the sport. While the Big Ten consistently advocated for the larger field, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey initially preferred a 16-team format to protect the conference's championship game. The American Athletic Conference, Big 12, and independent power program Notre Dame also supported the 24-team proposal.
The breakthrough occurred in September when both major leagues agreed to evaluate the larger bracket. Sankey had previously outlined prerequisites, including offsetting the lost revenue from the SEC title game and requiring at least ten regular-season games against power-conference opponents. The SEC's recent shift to a nine-conference game schedule, which drew complaints from some prominent coaches, may have facilitated the conference's acceptance of the new format.
Financial terms were a central component of the negotiations. CFP executives are expected to seek an additional $70 million to $80 million above the combined value of the former championship games. This would place the potential additional annual rights fee at more than $320 million, added to ESPN's existing agreement, which averages $1.3 billion annually. Sources indicated that ESPN could redirect rights fees from the conferences it currently holds to fund this expanded deal.
In a statement, the College Football Playoff said the expansion was driven by a desire to increase opportunities for FBS programs and student athletes to compete for the national championship. The organization noted that the 16 on-campus playoff games would bring postseason action closer to local fans and positively impact campus communities. New scheduling standards are also intended to encourage more compelling non-conference matchups during the regular season.
The playoff has undergone two major expansions in its history. It debuted as a four-team event at the end of the 2014 season, with Ohio State winning the title. In 2024, the field doubled to 12 teams, and Ohio State once again became the first team to navigate the larger bracket to claim the championship.
