College Football Playoff board approves 12-team format in 2026, ESPN reports

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska’s playoff chances will exponentially increase, but not until 2026.
ESPN writer Pete Thamel reported that the College Football Playoff board of managers has decided on a 12-team playoff.
Right now, only four teams face off in the playoffs.
The 12-team model is expected to start in 2026, after the current contract, according to a source. There’s still a chance that it could go earlier, but those details are complicated and would take some time to work out. https://t.co/sRWlmiDvbe
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 2, 2022
Thamel’s sources say the 12-team model is expected to begin in 2026 after the current contract expires.
On Twitter, Thamel wrote that one of the main drivers for this change was money.
He added that the format could change before 2026, but there is not much information on that yet.
One of the main drivers of this College Football Playoff expansion was money. Presidents felt as if they were leaving too much on the table. Monday could end up a powerful motivator for starting prior to 2026.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 2, 2022