CFP Expansion to 24 Teams Triggers End of Power Four Title Games
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The shift to a larger playoff field removes the standalone conference championship as a playoff determinant, altering the postseason betting landscape.
The College Football Playoff (CFP) will expand to a 24-team format starting in the 2027-28 season, a move that fundamentally alters the postseason structure and the value of conference championships, as Sports Illustrated first reported. According to the outlet, the Power Four conferences have announced they will end their football championship games following the current season.
For the betting industry, this represents a shift in volatility. For years, these standalone games served as critical punctuation marks that directly influenced the national title race. However, Sports Illustrated reports that with the expansion, the necessity of using a single game to determine playoff inclusion no longer makes sense. This is particularly evident in the SEC, where coaches and decision-makers began viewing the title game as an obstacle after Georgia won two consecutive SEC championships but lost in the CFP quarterfinals both years.
The new 24-team field will include conference champions from the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12, along with the highest-ranked team from the Group of Six (the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12, or Sun Belt). The remaining 19 spots will be filled by at-large bids based on the selection committee's rankings. While the Power Four are eliminating their title games, Sports Illustrated notes that none of the Group of Six conferences have yet announced if they will do the same.
From a media and industry perspective, this removes high-stakes inventory previously held by ESPN—which held rights to the ACC, Big 12, and SEC championships—and Fox, which broadcast the Big Ten championship.