College Football Playoff nears deal to expand to 24 teams
The College Football Playoff has reached a handshake agreement with broadcast partner ESPN, moving it toward a 24-team postseason that could start in 2027.
By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .
This story is no longer being updated. It reflects reporting up to .
What happened
The College Football Playoff moved closer to a 24-team postseason after securing what a person familiar with the negotiations called a handshake agreement with ESPN, its broadcast partner. The change would expand the current 12-team format.
Why it matters
Commentators argue the expansion could change how college football operates, with some saying something will be lost. Others question whether the bigger field is needed.
Timeline
- Oct 16, 7:54 PM ET: A handshake agreement between the College Football Playoff and ESPN moved the sport closer to a 24-team postseason.
- Oct 17, 12:11 AM ET: Commentary followed the announcement that the playoff was close to a deal expanding the 12-team format to 24 teams.
Coverage
- Patrick: College Football is trying to fix something that isn’t broken (iowastatedaily.com)
- 'Handshake agreement' with ESPN brings college football closer to a 24-team playoff, AP source says (AP)
- ESPN secures 'handshake agreement' to broadcast 24-team CFP, sources say (espn.com)
- Nick Saban reacts to 24-team College Football Playoff format (Yahoo Sports)
- The expansion no one asked for: CFP's 24-team move has problems (espn.com)
- The 24-team Playoff isn’t the death of college football. But something will be lost forever (The New York Times)
- How a 24-team playoff could change college football (Yahoo Sports)
- Column: Why College football doesn't need a 24-team playoff (badgernotes.com)
- On 'Bush Push' Anniversary, College Football Is Losing Its Identity (Unknown)
- With move to 24-team Playoff, college football would fundamentally change forever (https://www.nbcsports.com/author/nicole-auerbach)
- College Football Playoff Likely to Be Expanded Again (onthebanks.com)
- How do you go from BCS nonsense to a 24-team College Football Playoff nobody wants? By not listening to fans (Yahoo Sports)
- Why The 24-Team College Football Playoff Probably Won't Suck (Yahoo Sports)
- College Football Playoff to expand to 24 teams in 2027 (andthevalleyshook.com)
- What would a 24-team CFP bracket look like? (ESPN)
- Report: Officials nearing deal to expand College Football Playoff (wbrc.com)
- Oh, hey, it’s finally Notre Dame time. Plus: 24-team Playoff a go? (The New York Times)
- What 24-team expanded College Football Playoff would look like now and in 2025 (Yahoo Sports)
- College Football Playoff likely to have 24 teams in 2027 (amny.com)
- Guess who wins with a 24-team College Football Playoff? Spoiler alert: It's not the fans (cbssports.com)
- Report: The College Football Playoff is expanding once again (deseret.com)
- Sources: CFP nearing deal for 24-team format beginning in '27 (espn.com)
- College Football Playoff Expansion: 5 Major Changes Under the 24-Team Format (Unknown)
- College Football Playoff expansion: What would a 24-team bracket have looked like last season? (cbssports.com)
- Report: 24-Team College Football Playoff in 2027- KSL Sports (sports.ksl.com)
- College Football Playoff expansion, explained: How a 24-team format will work starting in 2027 (Yahoo Sports)
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