CFP expansion: How 2025 bracket would've looked under proposed 24-team format

Key Points:

• College football coaches have officially supported expanding the College Football Playoff (CFP), with discussions ongoing among conference commissioners and athletic directors about potential formats for the 2027 season; a decision is required by December 1, 2024.
• The CFP will remain a 12-team field for the 2026 season, but a proposed 24-team playoff format could add an extra round and 12 more games, eliminating conference championship weekend and changing the postseason calendar.
• The preferred 24-team model includes one automatic bid for the Group of Six champion and 23 at-large selections, with top eight seeds receiving first-round byes and others playing initial games at home, increasing opportunities for teams like Tulane and Notre Dame.
• Financial incentives are a major driver behind expansion, as more games mean increased TV revenue, advertising, and richer media rights deals, primarily benefiting power conferences like the SEC and Big Ten through greater payouts and multiple bids.
• The SEC, led by commissioner Greg Sankey, is cautious about expansion, emphasizing the need to protect value and avoid rigid qualification systems that could dilute their influence, advocating for a flexible model rewarding the best teams regardless of conference affiliation.