The CW network is reportedly in discussions to license College Football Playoff games from ESPN, according to a report from Awful Announcing. The potential agreement would mark a significant expansion of The CW's sports programming portfolio, which has recently included broadcasts of ACC football and basketball games through its partnership with Raycom Sports.
ESPN currently holds the media rights to the College Football Playoff through the 2025-26 season. Any sublicensing arrangement would require approval from the College Football Playoff management committee and ESPN. The CW, owned by Nexstar Media Group, has been actively pursuing live sports content to strengthen its broadcast offerings.
Drew Lerner of Awful Announcing reported the development on November 3, 2026. Specific details regarding the number of games, financial terms, or timeline for a potential agreement were not disclosed in the initial report.
