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By Andrew Gould
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The College Football Playoff and ESPN revealed a five-year deal to extend the postseason pool to 24 teams starting next season.
Fan backlash apparently won't surprise any decision-makers.
CFP executive director Rich Clark said a committee comprised of 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua voted unanimously to double the CFP field. Clark acknowledged that they all realize it won't be a popular move.
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"We're aware of the fan sentiment and that many fans aren't in favor of expansion, but that was certainly weighed into the decision and it was considered," Clark said, per ESPN's Heather Dinich. "But ultimately, we just need to make a spectacular playoff. The CFP has a responsibility to our fans. They're the lifeblood of college football, and we [owe] it to them to make this great, and that really is our intent. We appreciate our fans. We did take into account their sentiment, and that was rolled into this decision, but we decided to move forward with it."
The 24-team format will still award automatic bids to the Power Four conference winners and the highest-ranked Group of Six team, leaving 19 at-large bids. But with conference championship games eliminated, conferences are expected to determine their champion based on regular-season standings and their set tiebreaking rules.
The top eight seeds will receive a first-round bye, and the higher seeds (No. 9-16) will host the eight opening-round matchups over three days. Next season's CFP National Championship Game will take place on Jan. 24, 2028.
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"Opening the Playoff to more programs, more student-athletes and more fan bases across the country is great for college football," Mark Keenum, chair of the CFP board of managers, said in a statement. "We look forward to seeing this expanded format come to life next season."
Many critics will disagree, arguing that it diminishes the sport's traditions by devaluing the regular season and removing conference title matchups. Whether fans like it or not, the 24-team CFP will debut next year.
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