ESPN proposes $345 million annual bump for 24-team football playoff
The CFP and ESPN are in final review of a deal that would double the postseason field, covering lost conference title game revenue.
By Emmanuel Faure ·
College Football Playoff officials announced on Friday that negotiations with ESPN have reached a final review stage regarding an expansion of the postseason to 24 teams. The proposed media rights agreement includes an additional annual payment of $345 million, a figure ESPN previously reported as its offer to double the current 12-team field.
The CFP issued a two-sentence statement confirming the status of the talks but did not provide a specific timeline for a formal decision. The new contract is designed to compensate major conferences for the nine-figure sums they would lose by eliminating their individual title games. This potential deal sits alongside the existing six-year agreement, which begins in 2026 and is valued at $7.8 billion.
Under the format currently under discussion, the Power Four conference champions and the highest-ranked Group of Six team would receive automatic bids. A selection committee would choose the remaining 19 teams to complete the 24-team field.
The tournament structure would shift the first two rounds to college campuses. The top eight teams in the bracket would earn a first-round bye and host their games the following week. The major bowl games would continue to host the quarterfinals and semifinals, leading to a championship game scheduled for late January.
The CFP said a formal decision on the agreement will follow the completion of the current review process.
