College Football Playoff Expansion: 24 Teams Set for 2027

The College Football Playoff will feature 24 teams starting with the 2027 season, the organization announced on Monday. This expansion doubles the current 12-team format that has been in place since 2024.

Under the new rules, each Power 4 conference champion receives an automatic bid. The remaining spots will be filled by 19 at-large selections and one automatic bid for the highest-ranked Group of 6 school. The CFP selection committee will continue to rank the top 25 teams.

The Power 4 conferences, including the Big Ten, SEC, ACC, and Big 12, will no longer hold conference championship games. Conference champions will instead be determined by regular season standings and tiebreakers set by each conference.

The top eight teams in the rankings will receive first-round byes. Teams ranked nine through 16 will host opponents ranked 17 through 24 in the first round. The second round will also be played on campus, resulting in 16 games held at home stadiums. The quarterfinals and semifinals will remain at the New Year’s six bowls: the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, Orange, Peach, and Cotton.

The CFP stated that the expansion aims to increase opportunities for FBS programs, student-athletes, and fan bases. The organization also cited new scheduling standards intended to encourage more compelling non-conference matchups during the regular season.

The annual Army-Navy game will move to what is currently conference championship week, typically the first Saturday in December. No other games will be scheduled for that day. The 24-team format is set to last for at least five seasons, running through the 2031-32 season.

The playoff has undergone multiple changes since its inception in 2014 with four teams. The field tripled to 12 teams for the 2024 season. Previous formats have faced criticism, including the exclusion of an undefeated Florida State team in 2023 and the final ranking of Notre Dame in 2025.