Ten FBS commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director will meet virtually Monday to examine 24-team CFP logistics, with no decision expected and only broad early TV projections likely to be shared.
The biggest unresolved question is whether added media revenue can offset losing conference title games, which Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said would cost leagues more than $200 million annually.
ESPN must be notified of any 2027 format change by Dec. 1 and holds first negotiation rights, but its executives have signaled they prefer the playoff stay at 12, 14 or no more than 16 teams.
A 12-team CFP rights deal rose to about $1.3 billion a year through 2031, yet only ESPN made a competitive bid; Fox now wants in, while NFL rights talks and media consolidation could limit bidders.
Access still drives expansion support from the Big Ten, ACC and Big 12, but the format fight increasingly hinges on whether a larger field creates enough TV value to justify reshaping December football.