How the 24-team College Football Playoff would look in 2026

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart prepares to lead his team onto the field for warmups before a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

How the 24-team College Football Playoff would look in 2026

By Alan Rubenstein | Last updated Nov 9, 2026 6:14 PM ET

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Heather Dinich of ESPN reported on Monday Morning that an agreement between the network and the College Football Playoff to expand to 24 teams in 2027 is in place. The 24-team CFP is a five-year, $1.7 billion deal, per Dinich.

Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reported, "first *and* second-round games on campus of better seed- 4 auto bids to P4 champs; 1 auto bid to highest-ranked G6; 19 at-large bids based on CFP rankings; top 8 ranked teams receive a first-round bye."

The second 2026 CFP rankings will be released on Tuesday night. The Georgia Bulldogs, first in the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches Polls, are expected to be ranked first in the new CFP rankings. The undefeated Utah Utes are second in the AP Top 25 and the coaches' polls and are expected to be behind Georgia in the CFP.

After their 31-24 win over the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish moved up to the consensus No. 3 in the polls. The CFP committee has a dilemma about how far to move Notre Dame up in its rankings after the Fighting Irish were 11th last week.

The CFP and ESPN have agreed on a five-year, nearly $1.7 billion deal that will expand the field to 24 teams in 2027 with ESPN as its continued broadcast partner, sources told ESPN, a seismic move that also eliminates the lucrative Power 4 conference championship games.
— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) November 9, 2026

CFP rankings beyond the top three

The undefeated UCLA Bruins, Indiana Hoosiers and Miami are likely to be ranked fourth through sixth when the CFP rankings are released on Tuesday. The Alabama Crimson Tide, Tennessee Volunteers and Texas Longhorns, each with two losses, are seventh through ninth in the AP Top 25.

With one loss each, the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Wake Forest Demon Deacons are 10th and 11th with one loss. Five two-loss teams are ranked 12th through 17th. The Boise State Broncos are the highest-ranked Group of Six team at 18th. Four three-loss teams are behind Boise State. The New Mexico Lobos and LSU Tigers are 23rd and 24th in the AP Top 25.

It is difficult to imagine New Mexico making a 24-team CFP despite being 8-1. New Mexico is 42nd in the ESPN Football Power Index. The Iowa Hawkeyes, Missouri Tigers and SMU Mustangs would be the teams to watch inside the top 24 if there were a 24-team CFP in 2026.

Based on the remaining schedule, Iowa would be in a better position to make a 24-team 2026 CFP. The top eight teams will earn first-round byes in the 2027 CFP. In 2026, the top four teams in the CFP earn byes to the quarterfinals.

Here's what a 24 team playoff would look like today... pic.twitter.com/yI34rs86eb
— Jeff Clark (@RealJeffClark) November 9, 2026

The top three of Georgia, Utah and Notre Dame should be the same in the CFP rankings released on Tuesday as the AP Top 25 and Coaches Polls. How Indiana, Miami and UCLA are ranked, plus spots seven through 12, are the other positions to monitor in the second 2026 CFP rankings.

Alan Rubenstein

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