College Football Playoff expansion limited to 24 teams under new ESPN deal

The College Football Playoff (CFP) will be unable to expand beyond 24 teams for the duration of its proposed six-year contract with ESPN. According to reports, this limitation will remain in place through the 2032 campaign, meaning any further expansion can only be considered after that period.

The playoff format has undergone several recent changes. Following the initial four-team structure established in 2014-15, the field is set to expand to 24 teams beginning in the 2027-28 season. Recent modifications for the 2026-27 season include automatic bids for Power 4 champions and the top Group of 6 champion, rather than the previous system involving the top five conference champions.