The College Football Playoff officially confirmed its expansion to 24 teams starting in the 2027 season on Monday. This significant change brings more than just an enlarged field and the elimination of conference championship games. It also introduces strict new scheduling rules that will reshape how Power Four teams plan their seasons. Each program will now have two bye weeks, but they must use that time wisely to meet a new requirement: playing ten opponents from Power Four conferences, or Notre Dame, on their annual schedules.
With conference schedules expanding to nine games, teams must identify one additional non-conference opponent from a major conference to qualify for playoff consideration. While most programs already satisfy this condition, several institutions are currently non-compliant. These teams will need to make strategic changes in the coming months to ensure their 2027 schedules meet the new standards.
A temporary provision regarding Oregon State and Washington State provides relief to some programs. Although the old Pac-12 conference no longer exists, sources indicate that these two schools will still count as Power Four opponents for the 2027 season. This rule benefits several teams. Ole Miss is scheduled to face Oregon State, while Washington, Arizona, and Kansas will play Washington State. Additionally, the entire Atlantic Coast Conference is compliant due to its scheduling alliance with Notre Dame, which counts toward the required total.
Several Big Ten and Big 12 teams, however, face a more complex challenge. Indiana, for example, has a light non-conference slate for 2027. The Hoosiers will likely need to drop one of their current games against Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, or Indiana State to make room for a Power Four opponent. Oregon is in a similar position, needing to replace one of its scheduled games against Eastern Washington, Coastal Carolina, or Western Kentucky to maintain eligibility.
The University of Southern California and Texas Tech also have open dates on their 2027 schedules that require filling. USC, which has only locked in games against UNLV and Nevada, is missing a guaranteed opponent because its series with Notre Dame is on pause. Texas Tech has yet to announce its 12th game and currently has Arkansas-Pine Bluff and New Mexico on its roster. Both programs may look to match up with other schools seeking Power Four opponents to resolve their scheduling gaps.
Missouri, Nebraska, and TCU face similar hurdles. The Tigers must replace one of their non-conference games against Illinois State, San Diego State, or Florida Atlantic University. Nebraska needs to swap out one of its matches against Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, or Northern Iowa. TCU will have to replace one of its scheduled games against Alcorn State, North Texas, or Sam Houston. For coaches in these programs, securing a compliant schedule is a key step toward qualifying for the expanded playoff.
Looking back at the 2026 season, only two top 25 teams failed to meet the new hypothetical requirement: Indiana and USC. Indiana’s schedule featured North Texas, Howard, and Western Kentucky, while USC played San Jose State, Fresno State, and Louisiana. Both programs will need to adopt a different approach to non-conference scheduling starting in 2027 to ensure they have enough major conference opponents on their rosters.
Three Big 12 teams currently ranked in the top 25, including Texas Tech, Houston, and Arizona, remain in good standing due to the temporary classification of Oregon State and Washington State. However, it is not yet clear when these two schools will stop counting toward the Power Four total. Until that decision is made, the current rule alleviates pressure on teams that have these opponents on their schedules, though the long-term implications for scheduling strategies remain to be seen.
