College Football Playoff expanding to 24 teams: 2027 move has big impact on conference championships, Heisman

Key Points:

• The College Football Playoff (CFP) will expand to a 24-team format starting in the 2027 season, using a "19+4+1" model with 19 at-large bids, four Power Four conference champions, and one Group of Six champion, with early rounds on campuses and later rounds in traditional bowl sites.
• This expansion will eliminate conference championship games, including the SEC title game, which has been a major revenue source and popular event; the SEC announced its 2026 championship will be its last.
• The Heisman Trophy ceremony will move up to the first weekend of December starting in 2027, aligning with the new playoff schedule that begins after the regular season without conference title games.
• The decision followed extensive negotiations, with the Big Ten pushing for 24 teams and the SEC initially preferring fewer teams to preserve its championship game, but ultimately agreeing to the larger format amid scheduling and revenue considerations.
• The Army-Navy game will maintain its standalone broadcast window by moving to December 4, 2027, ensuring it does not compete with playoff games, preserving its traditional prominence and exclusive national spotlight.