When will the College Football Playoff expand to 12 teams?
By John Buhler
College Football Playoff expansion is coming, but not as soon as fans may want.
With the College Football Playoff likely expanding to 12 teams, implementing the expanded playoff isn’t likely for a few more years
The 2021 college football season will mark the eighth season of the playoff era. While the current four-team format is guaranteed through the 2022 season, the current television contract with ESPN runs through the 2025 campaign.
While expansion to 12 teams isn’t out of the question for 2023, the most likely scenario, according to Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated is for the 2026 season.
Recently spoke to another CFP Management Committee member who very much cautioned assumptions on an effective date for expansion (earliest could be 2023).
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) June 22, 2021
The committee member went as far as to say that 2024 or 2025 may be difficult.
The contract runs thru the 2025 playoff. https://t.co/qxqW0aARWM
Mark Keenum, Mississippi State President and Chairman of the CFB Playoff Board of Managers released a statement on Tuesday after the management committee’s latest meeting.
“The four-team playoff has been a great success and I’m confident it will remain a success. Nevertheless, it is our responsibility to explore options to make it even better by increasing the number of schools that participate in it.”
“We have relationships with the bowls and a broadcast partner with whom we will want to consult to explore the feasibility of the 12-team proposal … We look forward to hearing more and learning more in time for our next meeting in September.”
College Football Playoff expansion: When will it be implemented?
Though most people would prefer to see expansion happen sooner than later, the fans have has to understand this is a television product at its core and the TV contracts make this a bigger headache than it should be.
Ideally, the TV contracts could be ripped up and the 12-team format could begin in 2022. Because it’s the NCAA and university presidents hold the final say, this is going to be a deliberate process as opposed to the NFL who seamlessly had an expanded playoffs last year without much of a hassle.
The playoff working group will next meet on Sept. 28.
College Football Playoff expansion will happen, but it may not be a reality until the 2026 season.
Next. Ranking every College Football Playoff team of all time. dark
For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.