College Football Playoff Committee Shuts Down ESPN's 20-Team Idea

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The College Football Playoff could expand again, but likely not to 20 teams.

Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reported that ESPN was floating the idea of a 20-team CFP. That format would feature four play-in games to determine the final four seeds of a 16-team bracket, serving as a possible compromise amid deliberations of widening the field to 16 of 24 teams.

However, there reportedly isn't any significant traction behind a 20-team Playoff.

According to The Athletic's Chris Vannini, the concept of a 20-team CFP field surprised members of a CFP management committee consisting of FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua. Despite reports that they were expected to discuss the concept during Monday's videoconference, they only talked about it because a member asked about a social media post from media personality Josh Pate claiming a 20-team bracket was building momentum.

CFP expansion talks continue

ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: A detailed view of the ESPN Pylon Cam during the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Vannini wrote that ESPN, which holds the CFP broadcasting rights, could favor 20 teams rather than the 24-team field backed by the Big Ten. Yet the CFP committee remains focused on other options.

"Discussion of the matter during Monday's meeting was brief and dismissed, as the agenda instead focused on potential CFP expansion to 16 and 24 teams," Vannini wrote. "But those conversations didn't advance much, either."

Vannini claimed the 20-team CFP isn't a new idea, but it "had not been seriously discussed" at any point. While the SEC could be open to the thought, conversations on Monday "went nowhere" because of opposition from the Big Ten.

ESPN holds the exclusive rights to any CFP of up to 14 teams through 2031 with the first rights to negotiate for a larger field. However, sources told Vannini that the network may be unwilling to pay for an entire 24-team expansion. ESPN also broadcasts SEC, Big 12 and ACC championship games, which a new CFP format could replace.

This story was originally published by The Spun on Aug 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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