The College Football Playoff will expand from its current 12-team format to 24 teams beginning with the 2027 season, according to a report from Front Office Sports published Monday.
The expansion represents a significant increase from the 12-team model that debuted for the 2024 season, doubling the number of programs that will compete for the national championship. Details regarding the new bracket structure, automatic qualifiers, and selection process were not immediately disclosed in the initial report.
The move continues a trend of playoff growth in college football's postseason. The sport transitioned from the two-team BCS system to a four-team playoff in 2014, then to 12 teams for the 2024 campaign. The latest expansion to 24 teams would mean nearly one-fifth of FBS programs qualify for the postseason tournament.
Front Office Sports reporters Amanda Christovich and Kennington Smith III broke the story on November 9, 2026. Official confirmation from the College Football Playoff management committee and conference commissioners is expected to follow.
