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2h ago

CFP Leaders Leave Miami With No Expansion Agreement Before Friday Deadline

ESPN’s firm Jan. 23 cutoff now forces a choice to adopt a new format or keep the playoff at 12 teams.

Jul 17, 2023; Nashville, TN, USA; SEC commissioner Greg Sankey talks with the media during SEC Media Days at Grand Hyatt. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
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Jul 22, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Overview

  • Talks ended without a deal after CFP executives met in Miami, with commissioners saying discussions will continue this week.
  • The Big Ten continues to push a 24‑team field, while the SEC favors 16 teams, creating a stalemate over the playoff size.
  • CFP executive director Rich Clark said ESPN will not extend the Jan. 23 deadline, and the playoff stays at 12 teams in 2026 if no agreement is reached.
  • The Big Ten has floated a temporary move to 16 teams that later transitions to 24, but support remains uncertain across leagues.
  • A 24‑team concept could require eliminating conference championship games and conflicts with the protected Army‑Navy window that President Donald Trump says he plans to safeguard by executive order.