We’re getting closer and closer to a 24-team College Football Playoff.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Thursday that the CFP is close to a deal to expand to 24 teams, and the new format will begin with the 2027 college football season. He also reported that the CFP is finalizing a deal with ESPN to purchase the additional CFP games through the 2031 season.
MORE: College Football Playoff nearing future 24-team format
An expanded 24-team format has been expected for some time, even though much of the college football community opposes it.
Former Alabama head coach and current College GameDay analyst Nick Saban saw the news and gave his take on it during Friday’s edition of the “Pat McAfee Show.” He prefers a 16-team format.
“I would be for 16. I think that would be a good compromise,” Saban said. “I would be for keeping conference championship games as maybe a play-in to the 16, which now you’d have 20 teams that had hope. But I don’t think there’s much support for that. I don’t think anybody really likes that.”
A 16-team format definitely didn’t garner as much attention as a 24-team format, which is why you’re seeing the latter getting close to being finalized.
Will this year’s College Football Playoff change?
This season’s College Football Playoff will still be 12 teams and have the same format as last year’s. It’ll be just as exciting, if not more, and will start once the regular season is over.
Indiana won it all last year and will try to go back-to-back this year, assuming it makes the CFP.
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