Tallahassee Thomasville, FL, November 9, 2026 — The College Football Playoff (CFP) is undergoing a significant expansion, increasing its field from four teams to 24 teams starting with the upcoming season. This change marks one of the most substantial alterations to the postseason format in its history.

Under the new structure, the expanded playoff will feature 24 teams competing for the championship. The selection process will divide teams into two categories: automatic qualifiers and at-large selections.

  • Five automatic qualifiers will be designated, typically awarded to the champions of the Power Five conferences and potentially the highest-ranked team from the Group of Five conferences.
  • Nineteen teams will be selected as at-large bids by a CFP selection committee. This committee, comprised of athletic directors and conference commissioners, will evaluate teams based on performance and strength of schedule throughout the regular season.

The seeding for the expanded playoff has also been adjusted. The top eight seeded teams will receive a first-round bye, automatically advancing them to the second round of the 24-team bracket. This bye system aims to reward teams that have demonstrated consistent excellence during the regular season.

The expansion from a four-team playoff, which began in the 2014 season, to a 24-team field is intended to provide more opportunities for a wider range of teams to compete for the national championship. Details regarding the specific conferences that will receive automatic bids and the full composition of the selection committee were not provided in the initial announcement of the expansion.


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

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