The College Football Playoff will expand to a 24-team format beginning with the 2027 season, a move that will reshape the postseason landscape and eliminate conference championship games.
New Playoff Structure
The expanded field will use a "19+4+1" model: 19 at-large bids, four spots reserved for Power Four conference champions, and one for the highest-rated Group of Six champion. First- and second-round games will be played on campus sites, while quarterfinals and semifinals will remain in traditional bowls such as the Sugar Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Cotton Bowl.
End of Conference Championship Games
The expansion will end the era of conference championship games, which have been a significant revenue source. The SEC, which originated the championship game in 1992, announced that its 2026 title game will be its last. Last year's SEC Championship between Alabama and Georgia averaged 16.9 million viewers, the seventh-most watched game of the season.
Heisman Trophy Schedule Change
The Heisman Trophy ceremony will move up one week to the first weekend of December. In 2027, it will take place December 3-5. With no conference title games, there will be an open week after the regular season ends in late November, and the playoff will begin the first full week of December.
Path to 24 Teams
The decision followed more than a year of negotiation between the Big Ten and SEC. The Big Ten favored a 24-team field, while SEC commissioner Greg Sankey initially supported a 12- or 16-team format to preserve the SEC championship game. The ACC, Big 12, and Notre Dame eventually backed the 24-team model. A breakthrough came in September when both leagues agreed to evaluate the larger bracket, with Sankey securing prerequisites including offsetting lost championship game revenue and requiring at least 10 regular-season games against power-conference opponents.
Financial Implications
CFP executives sought roughly $70 million to $80 million above the nearly $250 million combined value of conference championship games, potentially adding more than $320 million annually on top of ESPN's existing agreement averaging $1.3 billion per year. ESPN, which holds rights to the ACC, Big 12, and SEC championship games, could redirect those fees toward the expanded playoff.
Army-Navy Game Preserved
The annual Army-Navy game will retain its standalone broadcast window. In 2027, it will move up one week to December 4 to avoid conflict with the playoff start on Thursday, December 9. Navy athletic director Michael Kelly praised the collaboration that preserved the game's exclusive window.
