College Football Playoff to expand to 24 teams for 2027 season

The new 24‑team format, slated for the 2027 season, will feature 19 at‑large bids, Power Four champions and a Group of Six champion, and will eliminate conference championship games.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:22:23 GMT

The College Football Playoff is set to expand from 12 to 24 teams beginning with the 2027 season, according to reports from ESPN cited by both the New York Post and Bleacher Report.

What happened

The proposed structure, described as a “19+4+1” system, would allocate 19 at‑large bids, automatic spots for the four Power Four conference champions, and a berth for the highest‑ranked Group of Six conference champion. The top eight seeds would receive first‑round byes and host second‑round games, while seeds nine through sixteen would host opening‑round contests. The first two rounds are planned to be played on campus sites, with the quarterfinals moving to the New Year’s Six bowl venues. The change would also eliminate the Power Four conference championship games and shift the start of the regular season up by one week.

What the reports add

Bleacher Report notes that the expansion would double the playoff field just three seasons after the tournament grew from four to 12 teams in 2024. It also cites Pete Nakos of On3.com, who confirms the top‑eight bye structure and the 19 at‑large bids. The New York Post adds that the new format would see the first two rounds on campus and the quarterfinals at the traditional New Year’s Six bowls.

What was said

"If the deal comes to fruition, the new playoff format would debut in the 2027 season," Pete Thamel told ESPN, as reported by the New York Post.
"The impacts of such a decision are likely to be seismic in nature," Bleacher Report wrote, summarising Thamel’s comments.

How it came about

The expansion follows a series of recent developments in college football, including the reshuffling of CFP rankings earlier this season (Texas tops CFP rankings after Week 2) and ongoing debates about the size and fairness of the postseason format. Felo’s earlier coverage of the 2026 season highlighted the pressure on coaches and the evolving playoff landscape, setting the context for this major structural change.

Key facts

The College Football Playoff will expand to 24 teams for the 2027 season. (nypost.com)
The format will use a 19+4+1 system: 19 at‑large bids, four Power Four champions, and one Group of Six champion. (nypost.com)
The top eight seeds will receive first‑round byes and host second‑round games. (bleacherreport.com)
The first two rounds will be played on campus, with quarterfinals at the New Year’s Six bowls. (nypost.com)