Handshake Agreement Moves College Football Playoff Closer to 24 Teams

Odessa Midland, TX, October 16, 2026 —

A handshake agreement between the College Football Playoff and ESPN is moving college football closer to a 24-team postseason format. The proposed expansion is tied to an effort to compensate major conferences for the elimination of their championship games.

The agreement signals progress toward a larger playoff, but the information available does not establish that a final format or set of terms has been completed. It does not specify how the conferences would be compensated, how much they would receive, or how any payments would be distributed.

The summary also does not identify which major conferences are involved or say when the change could take effect. Details about the proposed 24-team field, including how teams would qualify and how the games would be arranged, were not provided.

The stated link between expansion and compensation is the central issue in the agreement: the conferences would be compensated in connection with the elimination of their championship games. The available information does not explain whether those games would be removed immediately or under what conditions. It also does not describe the role ESPN would play beyond being a party to the handshake agreement.

As a result, the agreement points toward a possible structural change in the postseason while leaving key questions unanswered. The information provided does not include a formal announcement, specific contract terms, a timetable, or confirmation that the 24-team format has been adopted. Until those details are disclosed, the agreement is best described as a step toward expansion rather than a finalized playoff plan.

Story summarized from the original created by EDDIE PELLS, Associated Press on www.yourbasin.com, see more information here.

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