College playoff is expected to expand to 24 teams in 2027
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- College football is planning to expand the College Football Playoff from 12 to 24 teams by 2027 to increase revenue through more televised games, benefiting TV networks financially.
- The expanded playoff format is expected to result in more lopsided and less competitive early-round games due to mismatches between top-ranked teams and lower-seeded opponents.
- The new structure would involve additional games for playoff teams, potentially exposing top players to up to five more games, increasing injury risk and complicating decisions about skipping non-championship bowl games.
- Players face the downside of more games and greater injury risk without corresponding increases in compensation, despite the theoretical appeal of chasing a championship.
- The “Protect College Sports Act” and playoff expansion may ultimately lead to players earning less money, working harder, and facing greater risks to their professional prospects.
