SEC championship game to be eliminated as CFP to expand to 24 teams in 2027

The College Football Playoff field is getting even bigger next season, with ESPN’s Heather Dinich reporting the field will expand to 24 teams starting next season.

The nearly $1.7 billion deal between ESPN and the College Football Playoff will go for five seasons.

The expanded field will be composed of the four Power 4 conference champions, the highest-ranked Group of 6 team and 19 at-large bids.

Related Story

---

Why initial CFP rankings give nod of respect to SEC depth, scheduling

November 5, 2026

Selection Sunday for the 2027 season will be on Nov. 28, 2027, with the first round of games between the teams seeded Nos. 9-24 beginning in the second weekend of December.

The college football season will now begin the week before Labor Day, which has traditionally been Week Zero.

With the schedule being moved up, conference championship games will no longer be played. The SEC championship game this year is set for Dec. 5 in Atlanta. Georgia has won the past two SEC championships and is currently in first place in this year’s SEC standings.

Per Dinich’s report, ESPN is set to get back $140 million from the cancellation of the SEC, ACC and Big 12 championship games. The new College Football Playoff field will see ESPN pay out an additional $345 million a year to offset those cancellations.

Related Story

---

CFP selection committee unravels season of parity with first rankings

November 4, 2026

Teams seeded Nos. 1-8 will get a first-round bye in the CFP. The round of 16 games will be played on college campuses, with the quarterfinals and semifinals still being played at neutral sites.

Georgia has made both 12-team CFP fields thus far and is well positioned to make this year’s field. Georgia was ranked No. 2 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings for this year. The Bulldogs are currently No. 1 in the AP Poll and Coaches Poll after beating Ole Miss this weekend.