--- title: "College Football Playoff Expands to 24 Teams Starting in 2027" url: https://newscentral.site/college-football-playoff-expands-to-24-teams-starting-in-2027/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Sports" published: 2026-11-10T01:07:09.000Z updated: 2026-11-10T02:06:17.820Z id: 7ee28c04-16c0-4830-9ad8-13211b0fa589 source: "Yahoo Sports https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/willie-fritz-expanded-college-football-010709269.html" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/college-football-playoff-expands-to-24-teams-starting-in-2027/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # College Football Playoff Expands to 24 Teams Starting in 2027 The College Football Playoff (CFP) will expand to 24 teams starting in 2027 after a five-year deal was announced between ESPN and the CFP on Monday. The College Football Playoff (CFP) is set for a major overhaul as it expands to 24 teams starting in 2027. This significant change was announced in a five-year deal between ESPN and the CFP on Monday. University of Houston coach Willie Fritz has welcomed this development, stating that it will provide more programs with access to the postseason. He made these comments at his weekly press conference ahead of Friday's game against Colorado. The new format is expected to offer opportunities for teams from smaller conferences. The expanded playoff field will comprise 19 at-large bids, the winners of the Power Four conference championships, and the top-ranked team from the Group of Six. This change will effectively eliminate the need for Power Four conference championship games. In the new system, the Big 12's automatic bid will be awarded to its regular-season champion. The Big 12 has already announced that this year's conference championship game on December 4 in Arlington will be its last. From next year onwards, the winner of the regular season will receive the automatic bid. The University of Houston could benefit from this change as it was ranked No. 17 in the initial CFP rankings and may be in a good position to secure an at-large bid. The expanded playoff field is expected to provide UH with a better chance of receiving an at-large bid and potentially hosting a first-round game on campus. However, the exact implications of this change remain to be seen as the new format will come into effect from 2027 onwards. The University of Houston's chances for this season are still very much alive as they aim to secure one of the 12 spots in the College Football Playoff. To achieve this goal, the Cougars will need to win their final three games and rely on other teams' performances, specifically Texas Tech losing at least once. In a scenario where UH wins all their remaining games, they would likely emerge victorious in tiebreakers involving multiple two-loss teams, giving them an edge in advancing to the Big 12 championship game. This outcome is contingent upon several factors, including the performance of other teams in the conference. The Cougars' current ranking in the College Football Playoff (CFP) stands as the highest in program history, a testament to their hard work and dedication so far this season. Coach Willie Fritz acknowledges the importance of staying relevant but emphasizes that rankings at mid-season are not a guarantee of success. Coach Fritz's comments on the CFP ranking highlight the need for consistency throughout the season. He believes it is essential to maintain high performance levels, not just in terms of ranking but also in actual game results. This approach will enable the team to stay competitive and ultimately achieve their goals. Linebacker Jaden Yates made a notable return to action after missing three games due to injury. His impressive nine tackles on Saturday demonstrated his ability to adapt and perform at a high level despite being out for an extended period. Coach Fritz praised Yates' resilience, noting that he seems to have fully recovered from the injury. The defensive unit has had to adapt to different players handling responsibilities, particularly when it comes to relaying instructions from defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong. With Yates out, Sione Fotu and Carmycah Glass took on some of his duties, ensuring seamless communication among the team members. Coach Fritz is confident that Yates will return stronger than before, having shaken off any rust during his brief absence. This week's game will be a good opportunity for Yates to demonstrate his improved performance. Fotu's responsibilities were also affected by personal matters, as he missed most of practice last week to attend to family obligations. The Cougar faithful have been rallying behind one of their own, Dell. According to head coach Willie Fritz, the team is thrilled for him, and it's clear that his presence has been a boost to morale. Fritz noted that Dell has responded well to adversity, and his dedication to the team is evident in his frequent visits to practice. Additionally, Dell made an appearance at the Cougars' game against Oklahoma State on October 17, where he was even featured on the video board at TDECU Stadium. The upcoming matchup between the Cougars and West Virginia will also be a highly anticipated event, with ESPN and Fox set to announce the kickoff time within a six-day window. --- Source: [Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/willie-fritz-expanded-college-football-010709269.html) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/college-football-playoff-expands-to-24-teams-starting-in-2027/