ESPN has secured exclusive worldwide media rights to 12 additional College Football Playoff games, giving the ABC broadcast network at least six games across the first two rounds when the field expands to 24 teams in the 2027–28 season.
The playoff’s management committee approved the expansion on November 9 and announced it from Irving, Texas. The agreement runs through the 2031–32 season and gives ESPN rights to all 23 games in the expanded format, up from 11 under the current 12-team format. This season’s playoff will still have 12 teams.
ESPN said ABC will air at least three games in each of the first two rounds. Both rounds will be played on campus, raising the total number of campus-hosted games from four to 16. Disney Advertising will remain the sole seller of the playoff’s official sponsorship program, with more inventory across the expanded schedule.
ESPN can sublicense select games beyond its existing arrangement with TNT Sports. The parties did not disclose financial terms or identify the individual games ABC will carry, which additional games might be sublicensed, or how the full schedule will be distributed.
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