iowastatedaily
The College Football Playoff is on the verge of a major expansion, with a deal nearing completion with ESPN to grow the playoff field from 12 to 24 teams for the 2027 season, according to ESPN insider Pete Thamel. The agreement, however, has not yet been finalized.
College football first introduced a four-team playoff in 2014, a format that lasted for 10 seasons. In 2024, the playoff expanded to 12 teams, consisting of bids from the top five conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams.
Speculation about further changes had been building, particularly because the Big Ten and SEC sought more representation in the playoff. Those desires appear to be on the cusp of being realized.
Under the reported new format, each of the Power Four conferences would receive a guaranteed slot, along with one guaranteed spot for a Group of Six team (the best from the American, MWC, Sun Belt, MAC, CUSA, and Pac-12). The remaining 19 slots would be filled by at-large bids.
Additionally, the expansion would eliminate conference championship games to accommodate a longer schedule. The top eight seeds would earn a bye, while seeds 9 through 24 would compete in a first round, with the higher seed hosting. To fit the extra games, the season would begin a week earlier.
According to The Athletic, the proposed expansion could generate more than $300 million in additional revenue.
Key Analysis
For Iowa State, the potential 24-team format could provide a significant boost in future playoff hopes. In the first two seasons of the 12-team era, only one Big 12 team made the playoff each year, and that team had to win the conference championship to qualify.
In 2024, the 11-win Cyclones faced Arizona State in the Big 12 Championship Game with their season on the line. Iowa State lost, and their final game was a victory over Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
There is a strong possibility that Iowa State would have continued competing for a national championship under a 24-team format, as the proposed structure would create more opportunities for teams that did not win their conference. However, only time will tell if the Big Ten and SEC will continue to secure multiple bids in the expanded playoff bracket.
Originally reported by iowastatedaily.