ESPN reportedly opposed a proposal to expand the College Football Playoff to 24 teams, according to a report published Tuesday. The network, which holds broadcast rights to the playoff, was said to have expressed concerns about the format's impact on the regular season and television inventory.
The report, authored by Drew Lerner for Awful Announcing, did not detail specific reasons for ESPN's stance but noted that the network's position could influence future playoff format discussions. The current playoff system features 12 teams, with expansion talks ongoing among conference commissioners and NCAA officials.
Any change to the playoff structure would require approval from the College Football Playoff management committee and the NCAA. ESPN's media rights agreement runs through the 2025 season, with negotiations for future cycles expected to address potential format changes.
