Waco Temple Bryan, TX, November 9, 2026 — The College Football Playoff (CFP) is preparing for a significant structural overhaul, with plans confirmed to expand the field to 24 teams beginning next season. This expansion represents a substantial increase from the current 12-team format and aims to broaden participation across collegiate football.

Under the new 24-team format, the playoff structure will include five automatic qualifiers drawn from major conferences. Additionally, the top-ranked team from smaller conferences will secure an automatic bid. The remaining spots will be filled by 19 at-large selections, chosen based on their performance and rankings throughout the season.

A key element of the expanded playoff will be the seeding system. The top eight seeds in the tournament will receive a bye, allowing them to advance directly to the next round without playing an initial game. This provision is intended to reward teams that have demonstrated consistent excellence over the course of the regular season.

The playoff games are scheduled to commence in early December. This earlier start date for the expanded playoff is designed to accommodate the increased number of participants and provide a more comprehensive postseason experience. The overarching goal of the expansion is to include more programs and engage a wider array of fan bases in the championship chase.

Details regarding the specific criteria for automatic bids from smaller conferences and the selection process for at-large bids are expected to be further elaborated as the implementation date approaches. The expanded playoff aims to offer more opportunities for teams across different divisions of college football to compete for the national championship.


Story summarized from the original created by AP via Scripps News Group on www.kxxv.com, see more information here.

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