Further expansion of the College Football Playoff has felt inevitable for some time, but it is now arriving at the final steps before it becomes official.

As first reported by Pete Thamel of ESPN, leaders of the sport and the CFP are close to a deal which would officially bring the field from 12 to 24 teams starting as soon as next season. Final approvals still have to be cleared, but this is the closest the sport has ever been to an expansion many have felt was inevitable for months.

Sources: The College Football Playoff is nearing a deal to expand to 24 teams, per sources. The new format will start in 2027 and is expected to come together in the near future, pending final approvals. pic.twitter.com/tRdVAiqKax

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 15, 2026

The SEC was the one league pushing back against the expansion, but in recent weeks, Greg Sankey seemed to soften that stance on behalf of the conference, and it’s certainly not a coincidence that the ball began to roll with more momentum for expansion since then.

Naysayers of a 24-team field have argued that this will negate the importance of the regular season, something which is unique to college football. While more access is intriguing to some fans and programs, it’s safe to say this expansion is extremely unpopular with fans of the sport – while the previous two expansions were overwhelmingly supported.

What this means for the future of the sport remains to be seen, but there are real concerns from many that the very fabric could be altered here.