College Football Playoff Closing In On 24-Team Expansion: Report

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The College Football Playoff is reportedly nearing a historic expansion that would double its field to 24 teams beginning in 2027.

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According to a Thursday report from ESPN's Pete Thamel and Heather Dinich, college football officials are closing in on an agreement that would expand the playoff from its current 12-team format, pending final approvals.

For the Southeastern Conference, the proposed changes would provide programs with additional opportunities to compete for a national championship, while potentially bringing an end to the SEC Championship Game, a conference tradition dating back to 1992.

The expansion would represent another seismic shift in college football's postseason structure, which featured just four teams from 2014 through 2023 before expanding to 12 teams in 2024.

Under the proposed 24-team format, the eight highest-seeded teams would receive first-round byes, while teams seeded ninth through 16th would host opening-round games against teams seeded 17th through 24th.

The top eight seeds would then host the winners in the second round, giving programs like Alabama the possibility of hosting playoff games at Bryant-Denny Stadium even after receiving a first-round bye.

The quarterfinals and semifinals would continue to be played at neutral sites as part of the New Year's Six bowl rotation, with the national championship game remaining in January.

SEC Championship Game Could Be Eliminated

Perhaps the most significant change for the SEC would be the potential elimination of its conference championship game, which has been played annually since 1992.

The SEC Championship Game has long been one of college football's premier events, traditionally matching the conference's top two teams in Atlanta.

Alabama has been one of the event's most successful programs, winning 11 SEC Championship Games since the conference introduced the format.

Under the proposed playoff structure, the SEC and other Power Four conferences could eliminate their championship games to accommodate the additional rounds of postseason competition.

Conference champions would instead be determined through a method established by each league, although the precise details have not been finalized.

Reports indicate the proposed format could include 19 at-large bids, automatic berths for the four Power Four conference champions and a guaranteed spot for the highest-ranked Group of Six team.

SEC Commissioner Open To Expansion

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, who previously favored a smaller playoff field, signaled Wednesday that the conference has become increasingly receptive to the possibility of expanding to 24 teams.

Speaking during SEC Tipoff events this week, Sankey acknowledged that conference officials have continued evaluating the proposal and its potential impact on college football.

"I think there's an openness to playoff expansion on our part," Sankey said. "I certainly think there's an openness."

Sankey also emphasized the importance of considering television revenue, the location of postseason games and the effect expansion would have on the regular season.

The SEC previously favored a 16-team playoff, while Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti has advocated for a 24-team field.

Another major consideration for the SEC is the financial impact of eliminating its championship game.

According to CBS Sports, conference officials have been working to ensure that additional playoff revenue would offset money lost from eliminating conference title games.

The SEC and Big Ten currently receive the largest shares of College Football Playoff revenue, with each conference collecting approximately 29% under the existing distribution arrangement.

Expansion Could Begin In 2027

ESPN currently holds the television rights to the College Football Playoff under a six-year agreement worth approximately $7.8 billion, extending through the 2031-32 season.

The network and playoff officials have been negotiating the additional television rights associated with a 24-team tournament.

On Oct. 10, the College Football Playoff confirmed that negotiations with ESPN were continuing after the expiration of an exclusive 30-day negotiating period.

Officials described the discussions as constructive but stopped short of announcing an agreement.

Thursday's report indicates those negotiations are now approaching a resolution, although formal approval is still required.