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College Football Playoff Nears 24-Team Deal for 2027

By Drooid · Oct 15, 2026, 10:33 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Petitti Pushes 24 Teams

College Football Playoff officials near a deal to expand to 24 teams.
The 24-team format starts in 2027, making 2026 the final 12-team year.
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti leads the push for a 24-team field.
The field will have 19 at-large bids, four Power Four champions and the Group of Six team.
Top eight seeds get a first-round bye and host opening games on higher-seed campuses.

Summary

Fans Decry Expansion

The college football playoff expansion sparked fan frustration, who say it dilutes tradition and devalues the regular season.
Critics warn the larger playoff will increase player workload, extend the season, and raise injury risk.
Smaller programs fear they will still struggle for at-large bids despite the automatic Group of Six slot.
Fans accuse TV networks of pushing the expansion mainly to generate additional revenue.

History

Historical Context

After the NFL added a third wild-card team per conference in 1990, expanding the postseason to twelve clubs, the league set a precedent for larger brackets. The College Football Playoff now proposes a 24-team field for 2027, echoing that motive. Critics warn the expanded format could dilute tradition and increase player fatigue.

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Petitti Pushes 24 Teams

College Football Playoff officials near a deal to expand to 24 teams.
The 24-team format starts in 2027, making 2026 the final 12-team year.
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti leads the push for a 24-team field.
The field will have 19 at-large bids, four Power Four champions and the Group of Six team.
Top eight seeds get a first-round bye and host opening games on higher-seed campuses.

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