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CFP 24-team format: What you need to know about the new playoff
Confirmed
In Short: College football fans can expect a major shake-up in the playoff format starting next year.
Fans of the Portuguese national football team in Cologne 1.
How the 24-team College Football Playoff will work. On3
College football fans can expect a major shake-up in the playoff format starting next year. The College Football Playoff (CFP) announced on Monday that it will expand to include 24 teams, doubling the current 12-team field.
The new format will feature five automatic qualifiers: the champions of the Power Four leagues (the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12) and the best-ranked team from the Group of Six conferences (the American, Mountain West, Conference USA, Sun Belt, MAC, and AAC).
The remaining 19 teams will be selected by a committee, ensuring a broader representation of college football programs. This expansion marks the second since the playoff began in 2014.
The top eight seeds will receive first-round byes, and the playoff will start on the second weekend in December, with the first two rounds of games played on campus. This shift will bring an end to the era of conference title games that were once among the season's highlights.
The expansion will also require Power Four teams to play at least 10 'qualifying' regular-season games against conference foes, other Power Four opponents, and Notre Dame. Notre Dame, however, will not receive any guarantees, unlike this year when it is ranked in the top 12.
The new format will provide more opportunities for teams and players to compete for a national championship, potentially altering the landscape of college football.
The CFP's decision to expand comes as college football continues to grow in popularity, with more than 50 games available for betting each week during the regular season, followed by the bowl season and the expanded playoff.
Fans and teams alike are looking forward to the new format, which promises to be an exciting change for the sport.
What this adds
The expansion will require significant changes to the regular season schedules, including the addition of two open dates for every team.
The new format will likely impact betting and fan engagement, as more teams have a chance to compete for the national championship.
What's confirmed
- College football fans can expect a major shake-up in the playoff format starting next year. The College Football Playoff (CFP) announced on Monday that it will expand to include 24 teams, doubling the current 12-team field.
- The new format will feature five automatic qualifiers: the champions of the Power Four leagues (the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12) and the best-ranked team from the Group of Six conferences (the American, Mountain West, Conference USA, Sun Belt, MAC, and AAC).
- The remaining 19 teams will be selected by a committee, ensuring a broader representation of college football programs. This expansion marks the second since the playoff began in 2014.
- The top eight seeds will receive first-round byes, and the playoff will start on the second weekend in December, with the first two rounds of games played on campus. This shift will bring an end to the era of conference title games that were once among the season's highlights.
- The expansion will also require Power Four teams to play at least 10 'qualifying' regular-season games against conference foes, other Power Four opponents, and Notre Dame. Notre Dame, however, will not receive any guarantees, unlike this year when it is ranked in the top 12.
- The new format will provide more opportunities for teams and players to compete for a national championship, potentially altering the landscape of college football.
- The CFP's decision to expand comes as college football continues to grow in popularity, with more than 50 games available for betting each week during the regular season, followed by the bowl season and the expanded playoff.
- Fans and teams alike are looking forward to the new format, which promises to be an exciting change for the sport.
What's still developing
- A detailed view of the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy during the 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days at Hilton Chicago on July 29, 2026.
- In the above example, Ohio State is a 1.5-point underdog, meaning to cover the spread, they would need to win, or lose by 1 point.
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- Beginning with the 2027 season, every team will have two open dates built into its regular-season schedule, which was previously announced.
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- With the anticipation that the CFP will expand to include 24 teams, Day showed support of the idea.