ESPN has officially reached a $1.7 billion deal with the College Football Playoff (CFP) that will expand the playoff field to 24 teams beginning in 2027.
Under this new format, the first- and second-round games will be played on campus,
while the quarterfinals and semifinals will move to bowl sites. This expansion will also mark the end of Power Conference championship games.
The first round of the playoffs will most likely begin during the second week of December. The second round of the 24-team format could feature games played on weeknights, as it would fall during the third week of December, when the NFL begins playing games on Saturdays.
Whenever these scheduling conflicts occur, CFP television ratings have been negatively impacted. The NFL remains the biggest ratings generator in sports, regardless of the competition it faces.
The expansion of the playoff will have lingering effects and could divide fan support, particularly when it comes to the urgency of teams needing nearly perfect records and stronger competition to compete for a national championship.
What are your thoughts on the 24-team expansion being finalized, and do you think LSU should be in the playoff every year under this new format?
