College Football Playoff to Expand to 24 Teams in 2027, Ending Conference Title Games

The College Football Playoff and ESPN reached a formal agreement on Monday to expand the postseason field to 24 teams beginning in 2027. The five-year contract values the media rights at approximately $1.7 billion. The deal also includes a structural change that removes all Power Four conference championship games starting next season.

The expansion plan has been discussed for weeks before the final terms were locked in. While the 24-team format was the primary focus of negotiations, the fate of conference title games remained uncertain until recently. Pete Nakos of On3 confirmed that the SEC Championship and similar games in other major conferences will be cut from the schedule in 2027.

This move eliminates the final weekend of regular season play for Power Four conferences. Teams will instead proceed directly from their final regular season games into the expanded playoff bracket. The decision prioritizes financial growth over the traditional conference finale format.

ESPN and the CFP cited financial ramifications as the driving force behind the agreement. The potential revenue from a larger field outweighed concerns about the impact on regular season game importance. The media company and the playoff organization moved forward despite fan opposition to the larger bracket.

The new structure takes effect with the 2027 season. The five-year deal will govern the distribution of media rights during this period. Conference commissioners will now adjust their schedules to accommodate the elimination of championship games.

The change marks another major shift in college football structure over the past five years. The 24-team model will replace the current format starting in the fall of 2027. The SEC Championship game, a fixture of college football for decades, will not be played next year.