Trending Now - Espn's Influence Stalls 24-team College Football Playoff Plans

WHO:

On3 - Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark stated, “We like 24, we want 24,” regarding the 24-team College Football Playoff format.

On3 - ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said, “Our desire with the coaches and the ADs is 24,” emphasizing the need for an expanded playoff.

The New York Times - Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks.

On3 - Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark stated, “We like 24, we want 24,” regarding the 24-team College Football Playoff format.

Fox News - ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Notre Dame, ESPN, SEC

Newsweek - Jim Phillips, ACC Commissioner

WHAT:

On3 - Phillips indicated that the ACC supports an expanded playoff because teams with a “legitimate chance” to win a national title are being excluded, citing Notre Dame's exclusion last season as an example.

On3 - Yormark mentioned the need to address the economics around a 24-team format and ensure any unintended consequences are managed.

The New York Times - The American Football Coaches Association revealed its support for a 24-team playoff.

The New York Times - SEC commissioner Greg Sankey stated, “That focus hasn’t changed,” regarding the SEC's support for a 16-team playoff.

On3 - The Big 12 title game between Texas Tech and BYU drew 85,519, the largest attendance for any conference championship game.

Fox News - The ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, and Notre Dame are advocating for a 24-team College Football Playoff.

Newsweek - Jim Phillips is actively pushing for the 24-team College Football Playoff format to include more conference programs.

WHERE:

Fox News - The discussions involve college football programs across various conferences in the United States.

WHEN:

On3 - There is a December deadline to determine what the playoff format will be in 2027.

WHY:

On3 - Phillips stated that the current playoff format is missing the mark as it leaves out teams with a legitimate chance to win the national championship.

The New York Times - Phillips indicated that the ACC supports an expanded playoff because teams with a “legitimate chance” to win a national title are being excluded, citing Notre Dame's exclusion last season as an example.

On3 - Phillips stated that ESPN does not want the playoff to expand past 16 teams, saying, “ESPN’s made it clear, they want it to stay at 12 or 14, but no more than 16.”

Fox News - ESPN and the SEC are reportedly obstructing the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 24 teams.

HOW:

On3 - Yormark raised questions about how to replace the revenue from the conference championship game and add money to the playoff pool in a 24-team format.

The New York Times - Sankey mentioned that the SEC is open to conversation about playoff expansion but emphasized the need for analysis and information to support any changes.

On3 - Florida State coach Mike Norvell expressed a preference for three automatic qualifiers for each Power 4 conference, an automatic Group of 6 bid, and the remaining 11 teams filled with at-large teams.

Newsweek - The push for expansion is being led by ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, indicating a concerted effort from multiple conferences.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 17:33 UTC)

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips both expressed strong support for a 24-team College Football Playoff format, with Phillips highlighting the exclusion of teams like Notre Dame as a significant issue. They emphasized the need to address the economic implications of such an expansion, particularly concerning revenue from conference championship games. A decision on the playoff format is expected by December 2027, as both commissioners aim to ensure that teams with a legitimate chance at the national title are included.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 15:44 UTC)

In a significant move for college football, the American Football Coaches Association has announced its support for a 24-team playoff, while SEC commissioner Greg Sankey reaffirmed the conference's backing for a 16-team format. ACC commissioner Jim Phillips pointed out that the current system is excluding teams with a "legitimate chance" to compete for a national title, highlighting Notre Dame's absence from the playoffs last season as a key example. Sankey also noted that while the SEC is open to discussions about playoff expansion, any changes must be backed by thorough analysis and information.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 06:08 UTC)

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark expressed a strong desire for a 24-team College Football Playoff format, stating, “We like 24, we want 24.” In an impressive display of fan support, the Big 12 title game between Texas Tech and BYU attracted a record attendance of 85,519, making it the largest crowd for any conference championship game. As discussions continue, there is a deadline in December to finalize the playoff format for 2027, with ESPN advocating for a limit of no more than 16 teams.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 04:18 UTC)

The ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, and Notre Dame are joining forces to advocate for a 24-team College Football Playoff, with ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips leading the charge. This initiative aims to include more conference programs, but it faces resistance from ESPN and the SEC, who are reportedly obstructing the expansion. Discussions are taking place among various college football programs across the United States as they seek to reshape the playoff landscape.