The College Football Playoff and ESPN have finalized a five-year, $1.7 billion media rights agreement that will expand the playoff field to 24 teams starting in 2027, despite the sport’s own executives acknowledging that fans do not want the change.
Under the new format, 19 teams would qualify via automatic bids, four spots would go to Power 4 conference champions, and one at-large bid would be reserved for a Group of 6 school. Notably, conference championship games are effectively eliminated under the new structure, even as those same conference titles continue to supply four of the automatic bids.
CFP officials and ESPN executives framed the expansion as a historic move that will heighten excitement around the sport. But the reaction from fans has been largely hostile, with many accusing the organizations of prioritizing revenue over the people who actually watch the games.
‘That Was Considered’
The backlash intensified after comments from CFP Executive Rick Clark, who openly admitted that fan opposition to the expansion was known and weighed by decision-makers before they proceeded anyway.
“We’re aware of the fan sentiment and that many fans aren’t in favor of expansion. That was certainly weighed into the decision. It was considered,” Clark said. “Ultimately we just need to make a spectacular Playoff. I mean, the CFP has a responsibility to our fans, they’re the lifeblood of college football. We owe it to them to make this great. That really is our intent. We appreciate our fans. We did take into account their sentiment. That was rolled into this decision. But we decided to move forward with it.”
Fans did not take the remarks quietly. Reaction poured in across social media, much of it accusing the CFP of acknowledging public dissent only to dismiss it.
“Allow me to translate….we know the huddled masses are yearning to be free from our ongoing fiddling. We also know, like sheep, we can lead them, they’ll watch and buy. We’re doing it anyway because….$$$$,” one fan wrote.
“We hear you, but we don’t care,” wrote another.
“It would have been better to say nothing than this,” another fan commented.
One particularly blunt response summarized Clark’s statement as the CFP telling fans it had heard their objections and simply did not care.
The first round of the expanded 24-team playoff is scheduled to begin on December 9, 2027.
