With the College Football Playoff officially set to expand to 24 teams in 2027, it will have an impact on Washington's schedule moving forward.
According to a report from On3's Brett McMurphy, the expanded playoff also includes a stipulation that every Power 4 program will have to play ten games against P4 opponents. On top of a nine-game Big Ten schedule, the Huskies don't have another Power 4 opponent on their schedule until 2029, when they'll kick off a home-and-home with Tennessee.
Aside from the annual Apple Cup against Washington State, which Washington is locked in until after the 2028 season, the Huskies have another Pac-12 opponent in Fresno State on their schedule in 2027, along with FCS Portland State. Then in 2028, they have Eastern
Michigan from the MAC and the Mountain West's UNLV on the docket, along with a home game against the Cougars.
UW does not have a 10th P4 team on its schedule until 2029 at Tennessee
— Dave “Softy” Mahler (@Softykjr) November 9, 2026
2027: @ WSU, Fresno State and Portland St
2028: WSU, Eastern Michigan, UNLV
Someone's gonna have to be dropped
Washington has also consistently said they need 7 home games a year. https://t.co/tkVF3Mhzft
While Portland State and Eastern Michigan seem to be the most likely candidates to get dropped in the short term, the rule change could put the long-term future of the Apple Cup in jeopardy, as Washington has emphasized the importance of playing seven games at home every year.
"The talk was really...let's see where the CFP ends up because the 24-team playoff and specifically what the criteria for Power 4 schools to play other Power 4 schools would be," athletic director Pat Chun said in an interview on 950 KJR about the potential continuation of the Apple Cup.
Seven home football games are critical not just for Washington, but for any athletic department, as football drives the majority of the revenue at a large percentage of programs around the country. While the expanded CFP could provide an influx of revenue as well, assuming the Huskies can establish themselves as yearly contenders, a major shakeup is on the horizon.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: College Football Playoff changes to force Washington schedule shakeup
