The College Football Playoff management committee unanimously approved an expansion of the playoff field to 24 teams starting in 2027.
ESPN will remain the CFP's exclusive broadcast partner after signing a five-year deal worth nearly $1.7 billion, sources told ESPN's Heather Dinich.
The change to the CFP format will also result in the elimination of conference championship games among Power 4 leagues.
"The decision to expand was driven by a desire to increase opportunities for FBS programs, student-athletes and fan bases to participate in the playoff and have a chance to play for the CFP National Championship, while new scheduling standards incentivize institutions to schedule more compelling nonconference matchups during the regular season," the CFP said in a statement.
The CFP is increasing its postseason field from the 12-team format that's been in place since the 2024 season. The new tournament will include 19 at-large bids, every Power 4 conference champion, and the highest-ranked Group of 6 team.
Notre Dame will no longer be guaranteed to earn one of the at-large bids if it's not ranked high enough.
The top eight teams will receive first-round byes, and the first two rounds of the playoff will be held on the campuses of the higher seeds.
The New Year's Six bowls will still host the quarterfinals and semifinals, and the national title game will remain in January.
The Army-Navy game will be played Dec. 4 next year, which formerly served as conference championship weekend. The Heisman Trophy ceremony is expected to take place that evening, sources told Dinich.
The CFP selection committee will continue to rank its top 25 teams, though it could expand the weekly rankings to 30 teams to include programs on the bubble.
The college football season will now begin on the week prior to Labor Day and end the weekend after Thanksgiving. Selection Day will take place Nov. 28, 2027, and the national championship game will retain its previously announced date of Jan. 24, 2028.
