College Football Playoff Stays at 12 Teams for 2026 Season
The College Football Playoff (CFP) will stick with its 12-team format for the 2026 season. Conference commissioners couldn’t come to terms on a new playoff setup before ESPN’s deadline.
This means five conference champions and seven at-large teams will make up the field, just like the last three years. Leadership across college football clearly wants expansion, but the Big Ten and SEC haven’t found common ground.
Talks are still ongoing, though, and it’s hard not to feel like the playoff landscape will shift again before too long.
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Current 12-Team Format
Right now, the CFP has 12 teams: five conference champions and seven at-large picks. That’s how it’s been for three seasons, and it’s not changing for 2026.
The decision to keep this setup is really just because commissioners couldn’t settle on a new plan before ESPN’s cutoff.
The Role of the Big Ten and SEC
The Big Ten and SEC are the real heavyweights in these playoff talks. The Big Ten’s pushing for a massive 24-team playoff—double the current size.
The SEC would rather see a smaller jump to 16 teams, adding just four more at-large spots. Both sides have plenty of sway, but their visions are miles apart.
Future Expansion Possibilities
The expansion debate isn’t going anywhere. One idea floating around is to try a 16-team playoff for a few years, then maybe jump to 24 teams like the FCS does.
Some conferences are on board with that phased approach, but they don’t have much pull in the bigger picture.
Challenges in Reaching Consensus
The main snag? The Big Ten and SEC just want different things. The Big Ten’s all about a bigger, more open postseason, while the SEC’s after something a bit more restrained.
Unless they find some middle ground, the playoff format’s staying put.
Impact on Scheduling
Sticking with 12 teams affects the calendar, too. The 2027 CFP national championship is set for Las Vegas on January 25, right after Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
That’s a shift from earlier years, when the title game landed on the holiday itself.
Potential Game Dates
Exact playoff dates aren’t out yet, but odds are the quarterfinals will be January 1. Semifinals likely follow on January 14 and 15.
This schedule avoids short rest and keeps teams from sitting around for three weeks before the championship.
Broadcasting Rights
ESPN still holds TV rights to the CFP and sets the deadlines for expansion talks. For the third year in a row, ESPN will sublicense some games to TNT.
In 2027, TNT gets to air a semifinal for the first time, along with two first-round and two quarterfinal games. Last season, TNT had two first-round matchups, while ESPN handled the rest.
Implications for Viewers
More games on TNT means fans get extra ways to tune in. With TNT picking up a semifinal in 2027, their role in playoff coverage is definitely growing.
More channels, more options—it’s hard to complain about that as a viewer.
The 12-team format sticks around for the 2026 season. It’s familiar territory for fans and teams, at least for now.
College football keeps shifting, and honestly, nobody knows exactly what the next big move will look like. Expansion of the CFP is coming, eventually, but what that’ll actually mean for the sport? That’s still up in the air.
If you want to dig deeper into what’s happening with the College Football Playoff and all these possible changes, check out the full article on Yahoo Sports.
