College Football Nears Agreement on 24-Team Playoff Expansion

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 17, 2026

College Football Playoff organizers and ESPN have reached a preliminary agreement to expand the postseason to a 24-team format starting next season, significantly increasing the number of playoff games. This expansion includes a $345 million annual broadcast commitment from ESPN to offset revenue losses from eliminated conference championship games and aims to boost fan engagement and overall postseason revenue.

College football is nearing an agreement to expand its postseason playoff to a 24-team format, with a preliminary deal reportedly reached between the College Football Playoff (CFP) organizers and broadcast partner ESPN. Sources familiar with the ongoing negotiations described the arrangement as a "handshake agreement," though significant details and a finalized contract remain incomplete. The expansion is expected to take effect starting next season.

Under the proposed structure, the playoff would include 12 more games than the current 12-team format, increasing the total number of postseason contests substantially. ESPN’s additional financial commitment to the CFP is estimated to be approximately $345 million annually over a six-year period. This would supplement the existing six-year broadcast deal, which commenced this year and is valued at $7.8 billion.

The new format is planned to guarantee automatic bids for the champions of the Power Five conferences as well as the highest-ranked team from the Group of Six conferences. The remaining 19 spots in the bracket would be filled by a selection committee, continuing the practice of using a committee to determine at-large teams.

The agreement seeks to address the financial impact on major conferences that will result from eliminating their traditional conference championship games. These games typically generate significant revenue, and the new broadcast terms are designed to compensate for the expected losses stemming from the expanded playoff structure.

Discussions around the format and financial arrangements have been ongoing, with sources emphasizing that the current understanding represents a preliminary framework that requires further negotiation and formalization. The expanded playoff system is anticipated to alter the landscape of college football by providing postseason opportunities to more teams nationwide, potentially increasing fan engagement and revenue generated from additional games.

While specifics remain under discussion, stakeholders in college football are optimistic that a formal agreement can be completed soon, setting the stage for the new playoff format to debut as early as the coming season.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.