The 2026 season will not bring another expansion of the College Football Playoff. That doesn’t mean expansion is off the table, though. In fact, it still appears more likely than not.
The biggest hurdle is ESPN’s grip on the current tournament. The network owns the exclusive broadcast rights through a 14-team playoff field. Any expansion beyond that would open the door for other broadcasters to bid on the rights.
MORE: NC State’s schedule could open unexpected dark-horse path
Paul Finebaum believes significant expansion is inevitable, and he also thinks it will challenge ESPN’s monopoly on the College Football Playoff.
“I think ultimately, it will go to 24. There will be too much money at stake. And what the Big Ten and others want to do is make it an open market. Right now, ESPN has the exclusive contract, but it can’t go [over] 16 and retain that.”
#espn #open
The biggest hurdle is ESPN’s grip on the current tournament. The network owns the exclusive broadcast rights through a 14-team playoff field. Any expansion beyond that would open the door for other broadcasters to bid on the rights.
MORE: NC State’s schedule could open unexpected dark-horse path
Paul Finebaum believes significant expansion is inevitable, and he also thinks it will challenge ESPN’s monopoly on the College Football Playoff.
“I think ultimately, it will go to 24. There will be too much money at stake. And what the Big Ten and others want to do is make it an open market. Right now, ESPN has the exclusive contract, but it can’t go [over] 16 and retain that.”
#espn #open
3 months ago
