ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Friday that the CFP Board of Managers voted to expand the field to 12 teams beginning in 2026, though Thamel and Heather Dinich report that a change could potentially come sooner, and the board will push league commissioners to make the change as soon as 2024. A vote on expansion was expected, and recent reports indicated a high likelihood of expanding to 12 teams.
The College Football Playoff was instituted in the 2014 season to replace the controversial BCS system. The current four-team system has received its fair share of criticism, and adding more teams to the field appeared to be inevitable.
The SEC has landed two teams in the playoff field twice, and CFP expansion will open the door for even more league teams to potentially compete for a spot in the tournament.
There are several ways a 12-team playoff could be constructed, and as of now, it doesn’t even seem the commissioners currently know the details. But one thing is sure: There will be more meaningful football in December and January.
