College football playoff expands to 24 teams
The new format starts in 2026, grants automatic bids to conference champions, and shifts the first round to campus sites.
By Ethan Cook ·
College football will expand its postseason to 24 teams starting next season. The decision was announced on Monday by the College Football Playoff and ESPN. The move replaces the 12-team format that began in 2024.
ESPN agreed to pay an additional $1.7 billion over five years. This amount is added to the original $7.8 billion contract, which runs through the 2031 season. The new deal effectively pays for the expansion.
Under the new rules, all Power Four conference champions receive automatic spots. One additional spot goes to the best Group of Six team. A selection committee chooses the remaining 19 teams. The top eight seeds receive first-round byes.
The first two rounds of games will be played on campus. The playoff begins on the second weekend in December. The Army-Navy game is scheduled for the first weekend in December, a slot previously reserved for conference titles.
Notre Dame no longer has a guaranteed bid. The independent program must qualify through the committee. Coach Marcus Freeman called the change a net positive. He noted that the team can now afford more than one loss.
The SEC and Big Ten approved the plan. These two conferences hold the most market power. They previously disagreed on the size of the field. The Big Ten pushed for a larger bracket while the SEC wanted to keep it smaller to protect its title game revenue.
Power Four teams must play at least 10 regular-season games against conference foes, other Power Four schools, or Notre Dame. Group of Six teams must play 10 conference games. These requirements aim to standardize strength of schedule.
The first championship game under the new format is set for Jan. 24, 2028, in New Orleans. Traditional bowl games will host the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. ESPN has not yet decided what happens to other bowl slots.
The regular season will start the week before Labor Day. Teams are guaranteed two off weeks. The first rankings of the 2026 season have already generated debate about committee choices. Critics point to past exclusions of Florida State and Notre Dame as examples of committee difficulty.
Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said he trusts the direction. He stated that if the change is good for the sport, the team will make it work. The expansion is the second major increase since the playoff began in 2014 with four teams.
