College Football Playoff approves expansion to 24 teams starting in 2027

IRVING, Texas — The College Football Playoff will expand from 12 to 24 teams beginning with the 2027-28 season after the CFP Management Committee unanimously approved the change Monday.

The expanded format will include 23 games, with 16 played on college campuses. The current 12-team format will remain in place for the 2026-27 season.

The 24-team field will include the four conference champions from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC, along with the highest-ranked team from the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 or Sun Belt. The remaining 19 spots will go to the highest-ranked teams in the final CFP Selection Committee rankings.

The top eight seeds will receive first-round byes and host second-round games. Teams seeded ninth through 16th will host first-round games against teams seeded 17th through 24th.

The first and second rounds will be played Thursday through Saturday on the campuses of the higher-seeded teams.

“The decision to expand was driven by a desire to increase opportunities for FBS programs, student-athletes and fan bases to participate in the Playoff and have a chance to play for the CFP National Championship,” the College Football Playoff said in a statement.

CFP Board of Managers Chairman Mark Keenum said the expanded format will create more opportunities for programs and fans.

“Opening the Playoff to more programs, more student-athletes and more fan bases across the country is great for college football,” Keenum said.

The quarterfinals and semifinals will continue to be played at the six CFP bowl sites: the Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose and Sugar bowls.

The expansion also includes new scheduling standards intended to encourage more high-profile nonconference games during the regular season. Teams in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC will be expected to play at least 10 qualifying regular-season games against conference opponents, other teams in those four conferences or Notre Dame.

Teams in the other conferences will be expected to play at least 10 qualifying games against conference opponents, teams from the Group of 6 or Power 4 conferences, Notre Dame or other independent programs.

The selection committee will not give teams additional credit for wins over more than one FCS opponent in a season.

ESPN also reached a new media rights agreement with the CFP and will remain the exclusive worldwide rights holder through the 2031-32 season. ESPN and ABC will carry all 23 games, although ESPN will have the option to sublicense select games.

CFP Executive Director Rich Clark said the organization intends to deliver a strong experience for fans and participating schools under the expanded format.

“We will make the 24-team Playoff spectacular for the fans, student-athletes, their institutions and all our stakeholders,” Clark said.

The CFP also said no playoff games will be scheduled during the Army-Navy game. The Heisman Trophy ceremony weekend will move one week earlier, with the 2027 event scheduled for Dec. 3-5.

The first national championship game under the expanded format will be played Jan. 24, 2028, in New Orleans. Tampa Bay will host the 2029 championship game.

The 24-team format is scheduled to remain in place through the 2031-32 season.

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