The College Football Playoff is officially doubling in size.
ESPN and the CFP have reached an agreement to expand the playoff to 24 teams, the CFP announced Monday.
According to ESPN, the deal will be for five years and nearly $1.7 billion.
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“The decision to expand was driven by a desire to increase opportunities for FBS programs, student-athletes and fan bases to participate in the Playoff and have a chance to play for the CFP National Championship, while new scheduling standards incentivize institutions to schedule more compelling non-conference matchups during the regular season,” the CFP said in a statement.
Effects of the 24-team playoff will include opening the regular season a week earlier, along with eliminating conference championship games in Power Four leagues.
The new format will feature 19 at-large playoff teams and five automatic bids for the four Power Four conference champions and a Group of Five participant.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, Peach, Orange and Cotton bowls will continue serving as host sites for the national quarterfinal and semifinal matchups, and the national championship game will still be played in January.
The College Football Playoff was a four-team event from its debut in 2014 to 2023, with the current 12-team model beginning in 2024 and now in its final season.
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