College Football Playoff to expand to include 12 teams no later than 2026

By Jacob Lev and Steve Almasy, CNN

Updated 0001 GMT (0801 HKT) September 3, 2022

Stetson Bennett of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates with the National Championship trophy on January 10.

(CNN)The College Football Playoff Board of Managers has unanimously approved expanding the current four-teamplayoff format to include 12 schools, the board announced Friday.

The new format is set to begin in 2026 but the board has tasked the College Football Management Committee to try to implement the expansion earlier, following the 2024 or 2025 season.«More teams, more participation and more excitement are good for our fans, alumni, and student-athletes,» Mark Keenum, the President of Mississippi State and the chairman of the College Football Playoff Board of Managers.«I'm grateful to my colleagues on the board for their thoughtful approach to this issue and for their resolve to get expansion across the goal line and for the extensive work of the Management Committee that made this decision possible.»College Football Playoff Fast FactsThe four-team playoff format began during the 2014 college football season following decades of the Bowl Championship Series in which two teams were selected to play in a bowl game designated as the national championship contest.Read MoreKeenum continued, «I'm very pleased we were able to get this accomplished and I look forward to expansion taking place. The four-team playoff has been highly popular and successful. I believe this new format will be even more popular and successful.»The board, a group of 11 university presidents and chancellors, said the field will be the six conference champions ranked highest by the selection committee and the six other highest ranked teams.The four highest ranked