College Football Playoff Moves Closer to 24-Team Format Through ESPN Agreement

Dothan, AL, October 16, 2026 —

College football has moved closer to a 24-team playoff format following a handshake agreement between the College Football Playoff and its broadcast partner, ESPN, according to the information provided.

The agreement signals progress toward expanding the playoff, but the available details do not establish that a 24-team format has been formally adopted. The terms of the handshake agreement were not provided, nor was information about when a larger field might take effect.

Other key details remain unspecified, including how teams would qualify, how the expanded playoff would be organized, and whether additional approvals are required. The information also does not describe any changes to the existing playoff arrangement or indicate whether the parties have announced a finalized plan.

The College Football Playoff and ESPN are identified as the parties to the agreement, with ESPN described as the playoff’s broadcast partner. No representatives’ statements or direct quotations were included in the information available, and no financial terms were provided.

For now, the reported development is a step toward a 24-team format rather than confirmation that the expanded playoff is in place. Further details about the agreement and the proposed structure were not available.

Story summarized from the original created by EDDIE PELLS, Associated Press on www.wdhn.com, see more information here.

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