College Football Playoff Set for Major Expansion to 24 Teams
The College Football Playoff is expanding to 24 teams starting next season, marking the end of the traditional conference title game era. The new format will feature five automatic qualifiers and 19 teams selected by a panel, with the top…
Billings, MT, November 9, 2026 — The College Football Playoff (CFP) is undergoing a significant expansion, increasing its field to 24 teams beginning with the upcoming season. This overhaul represents a departure from the previous format and signals the end of the era dominated by traditional conference title games for playoff qualification.
Under the revised structure, five teams will secure automatic berths into the expanded playoff. The remaining 19 spots will be determined by a selection committee. Further details of the format indicate that the top eight seeds in the 24-team field will receive a bye, suggesting a multi-round playoff system designed to accommodate the increased number of participants.
The expansion is occurring concurrently with a new media rights agreement established with ESPN. Specific terms of this agreement were not detailed in the provided summary.
This development marks one of the most substantial changes to the College Football Playoff system since its inception, aiming to broaden participation and potentially alter the traditional pathways to championship contention.
Story summarized from the original created by AP via Scripps News Group on www.ktvq.com, see more information here.