College Football Playoff approves 24-team field for 2027-28 season

The College Football Playoff will expand to 24 teams for the 2027-28 season after its management committee unanimously approved the change on November 9. According to the CFP announcement, the current 2026-27 competition will remain a 12-team event.

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The new field will include the champions of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC, plus the highest-ranked team from the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 or Sun Belt. The selection committee's final rankings will supply the other 19 qualifiers.

The eight highest seeds will skip the opening round and host second-round games. Seeds nine through 16 will host first-round opponents from seeds 17 through 24. Across those two rounds, campuses will stage 16 games, compared with four under the existing system.

The CFP said each conference controls the future of its championship game. New Orleans will host the first final under the expanded format on January 24, 2028. The six existing bowl partners will retain quarterfinals and semifinals. The CFP says the format will remain at 24 teams through 2031-32.

ESPN separately confirmed that its new agreement covers worldwide media rights to the enlarged tournament through the 2031-32 season. The network said its package comprises eight first-round games, eight second-round games, four quarterfinals, two semifinals and the national championship. That makes 23 games, up from 11 in the current playoff.

The broadcast arrangements also increase the number of early-round games available on ABC. Starting with the expanded competition, at least three games from each of the first two rounds will air on the network, ESPN said. That commitment covers both rounds individually, adding broadcast exposure as the postseason field doubles in size.

ESPN's announcement said the agreement builds on the six-year deal announced in 2024, which began with the 2026-27 season. It also preserves rights to simulcast games and provide MegaCast coverage across Walt Disney Company networks. Disney Advertising will continue selling the playoff's official sponsorship programme, with additional inventory from the larger schedule.