By Habari Sports Staff

IRVING, Texas — The College Football Playoff is taking another step in its evaluation of a potential expansion to 24 teams, but officials emphasized that no final decision has been made.

The CFP announced Sept. 8 that it will begin media rights discussions with ESPN as part of its review of a larger postseason format.

“The CFP has decided to move forward in its evaluation of potential Playoff expansion to 24 teams by beginning a media rights discussion with ESPN. This does not represent a decision or commitment to expand, but rather an opportunity to engage with ESPN and gather additional information to help determine a path forward. The CFP will provide additional updates when appropriate.”

The announcement signals that the CFP is gathering the financial and broadcasting information needed to determine whether a 24-team playoff would be workable. Opening talks with ESPN allows officials to evaluate the potential media value of a larger field before committing to a change.

No Expansion Decision Yet

The CFP carefully distinguished the media rights discussion from formal approval. At this stage, the organization is evaluating possibilities and collecting information—not announcing a new format.

A 24-team bracket would represent a major shift for college football. It could allow more programs to compete for a national championship, but it would also raise questions about scheduling, player workload, campus-hosted games, conference access, and the length of the season.

The CFP did not provide a timetable for completing its evaluation or making a final decision. It also did not explain how a potential 24-team field would be selected, seeded, or structured.

For now, the ESPN talks should be viewed as an information-gathering step. The CFP said additional updates will be released when appropriate.

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