College Football Playoff Set to Expand to 24 Teams Next Season
The College Football Playoff is expanding to 24 teams, doubling its size, starting next season. This new format, announced Monday, will feature automatic qualifiers from major conferences and selection committee picks, funded by a renegotiated ESPN contract that adds $1.7…
Butte Bozeman, MT, November 9, 2026 — The College Football Playoff (CFP) is undergoing a significant expansion, set to double in size to 24 teams beginning next season. The announcement regarding the new format was made on Monday.
Under the expanded structure, the CFP will feature a combination of automatic qualifiers from major conferences and selections made by a committee. This move aims to broaden participation and engagement across more college football programs and their respective fan bases nationwide.
The financial backing for this expansion comes from a renegotiated contract with ESPN. This updated agreement is expected to inject an additional $1.7 billion into the CFP over the course of five years. The specific details of how the additional revenue will be distributed among participating conferences and teams have not been detailed.
The expansion to 24 teams marks a substantial shift from the previous 12-team format that was recently approved. The introduction of automatic qualifiers is intended to guarantee spots for conference champions, a change that could alter the dynamics of conference championship games.
Further details regarding the selection criteria for the committee picks and the specific breakdown of automatic bids per conference are anticipated as the new season approaches. The CFP management committee is expected to release more information on the operational aspects of the 24-team format in the coming months.
Story summarized from the original created by AP via Scripps News Group on www.kxlf.com, see more information here.
