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College Football Playoff Nearing Deal to Expand to 24 Teams in 2027, Reports Say
ESPN’s Pete Thamel said the new format is nearing final approval as officials weigh replacing conference championship games and their TV revenue.
- On Thursday, ESPN and the College Football Playoff neared a deal to expand the postseason to 24 teams beginning in 2027, securing ESPN's exclusive broadcasting rights through the 2031 season.
- Negotiators are finalizing a structure featuring 19 at-large bids, four Power 4 champions, and one Group of 6 team, which would eliminate Power 4 conference championship games valued around $200 million annually.
- Financial terms remain unreported, but the expanded deal is expected to pay at least $300 million more annually than the current contract, offsetting revenue lost by eliminating championship games.
- Fan reception remains critical, with 70 percent of surveyed listeners opposing the 24-team format; podcast host Bruce Feldman noted this reaction mirrors the controversial launch of 'New Coke' in 1985.
- A December 1 deadline requires final format approval for the 2027-28 season, with logistical requirements determining whether the expanded bracket begins on schedule or delays until 2028.
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CFP, ESPN 'nearing deal' on 24-team format to begin in 2027
The College Football Playoff appears to officially be expanding. According to a report by ESPN college football reporter Pete Thamel, the CFP “is nearing a deal to expand to 24 teams” for the 2027 season. A deal is “expected to come together in the near future, pending final approvals,” Thamel writes. Prior reports indicate that…
College Football Will Never Be the Same After This Latest Playoff Update
College football as fans know it could be approaching the end of an era, and the latest College Football Playoff developments suggest a historic transformation is getting closer.The sport is considering a massive expansion from 12 playoff teams to 24 beginning with the 2027 season. However, the potential changes go far beyond giving more programs […]
·Las Vegas, United States
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Total News Sources14
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 38%
C 50%
12%
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