During the four-team era of the College Football Playoffs, there was consistent chatter about expansion. But even now that the 12-team field is in play, there’s still constant conversation about the possibility of more expansion. And it sounds like those conversations are being taken seriously by the executives in charge.
According to ESPN’s Heather Dinich on Friday, there is a movement towards expanding the playoffs to a 16-team field, possibly even imminently. However, it all depends on two of the most important figures in the college athletics landscape.
“My sense in talking to sources is that there’s more momentum than ever to go to a 16-team field, possibly as soon as 2026, if SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti can agree to it. And right now, that stalemate still exists. Those two men have the bulk of control over the future format,” Dinich said on ESPN’s Get Up program.
In some ways, especially considering 10-seed Miami’s run to the College Football Playoff title game, expansion feels inevitable. It’s something that has been discussed for several years now, and it only continues to gain steam from talking heads in the media and fans with each passing year. But there does appear to be obstacles to overcome.
Dinich’s statement also revealed the fleeting timetable in which a decision will need to be made by.
“The deadline is at the end of the month in order to change it, if they are going to,” Dinich said. “If they cannot agree, it will stay at 12 (teams) for now.”
“There is more momentum than ever to go to a 16-team field, possibly as soon as 2026.” 👀
—@CFBHeather on the possibility of expanding the CFP pic.twitter.com/5j2o8AukI4
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) January 9, 2026
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The report is interesting for two different reasons. On one hand, it’s notable that the 16-team format is gaining steam at a rate that hasn’t been seen before. But on the other hand, though, it sounds like the decision will simply come down to Sankey and Petitti being able to agree on things through the stalemate. There are obviously more detailed factors at play, but it’s fascinating how everything is shaping up.
Until then, the 2025 College Football Playoffs will roll on. 10-seed Miami punched its ticket to the championship game with a win over Ole Miss on Thursday night, and the other competitor will be decided in a semi-final matchup between 5-seed Oregon and 1-seed Indiana on Friday night. With the Rebels’ elimination on Thursday, it’s now confirmed that no SEC team will be competing in the title game for a third straight season. The SEC previously had a streak of having at least one team in every championship game from 2015 to 2022.
