Likely 24-team CFP expansion could reshape college football (again) in 2027

The College Football Playoff is moving closer to expanding its current 12-team field to a potential 24-team field in 2027, a change that could dramatically alter the postseason for Texas Longhorns football, the SEC, and beyond. But despite reports of a preliminary agreement with ESPN, expansion has not been formally approved, and key details remain unresolved.

Late last week, the Associated Press reported that the CFP and ESPN had reached a “handshake agreement” on a framework to help offset the revenue conferences could lose by eliminating their championship games. The report, which cited an anonymous source familiar with the negotiations, said an official contract and other details remained unfinished. The CFP’s own Oct. 15 statement confirmed that discussions with ESPN were ongoing.

However, the statement did not announce that an official deal had been struck.

Big Ten pushes for 24 teams, while SEC weighs the costs

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has emerged as one of the proposal’s strongest advocates, arguing that a larger playoff would make more regular-season games meaningful by keeping additional programs in contention into November. The Big Ten, ACC, and the Big 12 have supported a 24-team field, while the SEC has expressed skepticism.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey previously favored expanding from 12 teams to 16, citing the potential financial and competitive consequences of a larger bracket (expanding to 24 teams, in other words.) In May, Sankey said the SEC did not have consensus on the size of an expanded playoff. He also emphasized the risks tied to eliminating conference championship games.

Georgia president Jere Morehead also publicly opposed jumping directly to 24 teams. In May remarks reported by The Athletic, Morehead said he preferred trying a 16-team format first. Morehead argued that a 24-team field could diminish the importance of major regular-season matchups.

The SEC’s position remains a key variable. Although Sankey has acknowledged growing interest in 24 teams, that does not amount to formal approval of a finalized format amongst the league’s official movers and shakers.

What it could mean for Texas

The proposed model described by the AP would feature 24 teams: four automatic bids for Power Four conference champions, one automatic bid for the highest-ranked Group of Six champion, and 19 at-large selections. The top eight teams would receive first-round byes, with early-round games played on campus, which has been a selling point amongst many programs thus far. These details remain part of the reported framework, rather than an officially approved bracket.

For Texas, expansion could provide more margin for error in a demanding SEC schedule and another route to a national championship after a disappointing regular season result, such as the 2026 regular season is shaping up to be after the Longhorns dropped consecutive matchups versus Oklahoma and Florida.

Even so, the potential benefits come with trade-offs.

Eliminating or restructuring conference championship games would affect both tradition and revenue, opponents of CFP expansion have argued. The SEC’s championship game in Atlanta is a major athletic event; replacing it with additional playoff contests would require the conference to weigh financial returns against the value of its existing postseason, now.

The bottom line

The reported ESPN framework puts a 24-team playoff closer to reality — as near as we get without ink meeting paper — but the CFP has not formally approved the change. The Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12 have advocated expansion, while Georgia’s Morehead has led the for those who have argued for a more cautious approach for any continued CFP expansion.

If approved by the Dec. 1 deadline for the 2027 season, a 24-team bracket would represent another major postseason overhaul just three years after the CFP expanded from four teams to 12. For Texas, more access would be welcome. Whether the change creates a better postseason — or simply a bigger, more lucrative one — remains to be seen for now.