College Football Playoff Set for Major Expansion to 24 Teams Next Season
The College Football Playoff is expanding to 24 teams starting next season, implementing a new format that includes five automatic qualifiers and 19 at-large selections. This significant change, which will see the first rounds played on campus and top seeds…
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, November 9, 2026 —
The College Football Playoff (CFP) will undergo a significant expansion, growing to include 24 teams beginning next season. This change marks a substantial shift in the postseason landscape for college football, aiming to incorporate more collegiate programs and their respective fan bases into the championship picture.
Under the new format, the expanded playoff will feature a total of 24 teams. Of these, five will earn automatic bids as conference champions, ensuring representation for teams that perform exceptionally well within their leagues. The remaining 19 spots will be allocated as at-large selections, determined by a selection committee, providing flexibility to include highly ranked teams that may not have won their conference.
Further details of the new structure indicate that the initial rounds of the playoff will be played on the campuses of the higher-seeded teams. Additionally, top-seeded teams are slated to receive byes, a provision designed to reward the teams that demonstrate the most consistent dominance throughout the regular season.
This expansion is facilitated by a new agreement between the College Football Playoff and ESPN. The partnership with the broadcasting network has been instrumental in enabling the logistical and financial framework required for such a substantial increase in playoff participants. The stated goal of this evolution is to broaden participation and engagement across college football by allowing more teams the opportunity to compete for a national championship.
Story summarized from the original created by By Associated Press on www.tampabay.com, see more information here.
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