On September 8, College Football Playoff executives opened a 30-day negotiation window with ESPN to discuss expansion to 24 teams. Three weeks later, we apparently have some movement on that front.
According to On3’s Pete Nakos, conversations about a 24-team CFP will continue this week during meetings in Chicago. Nakos adds that “momentum is building” for the 24-team field.
“[The] ACC, Big 12 and Notre Dame [support] it,” Nakos said. “And the SEC [is] open to it.”
The Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level of Division-1 has utilized a 24-team playoff since 2013. FBS has transitioned from the BCS National Championship to a four-team playoff and finally the current 12-team playoff across the last 13 years. However, a 24-team playoff could cost fans their beloved conference championship games, per ESPN’s Heather Dinich.
“CFP leaders have until Dec. 1 to decide if they want to change the format for 2027. The SEC and the Big Ten have the bulk of control over the future format, and they will need to agree on it to move forward,” Dinich said. “Nobody, though, wants to lose money, and the lucrative Power 4 conference championship games would be eliminated to clear calendar space for more playoff games.”
Unfortunately, whether or not fans would prefer to keep conference title games instead of expanding the playoff is likely irrelevant. Their cries cannot top the power of the almighty dollar. ESPN’s exclusive 30-day negotiation window with the CFP expires on Oct. 8.
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