The College Football Playoff will remain on ESPN until the 2031-32 season as per a new agreement between the network and the CFP.
Under this deal, ESPN will expand its current coverage for the last two years, until the 2025-26 season, by incorporating all four of the new first-round games annually into its existing New Year’s Six lineup, which currently includes the quarterfinals and semifinals, as well as the CFP national championship rights in the new 12-team playoff format launching in the fall. The extension spans six years and averages $1.3 billion annually.
Additionally, ESPN has secured exclusive rights for the CFP for six years starting from the 2026-27 season, encompassing all rounds of the expanded playoff and ancillary programming associated with the playoff like the CFP Selection Show and weekly Top 25 Rankings Shows.
Bill Hancock, Executive Director of the CFP, expressed satisfaction with the continued partnership with ESPN, highlighting the network’s comprehensive coverage of college football. ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro emphasized the network’s commitment to college football, stating that this agreement solidifies ESPN’s position as the primary destination for college football coverage.
Beginning in the 2026-27 season, the CFP national championship will be broadcast on ABC, with the MegaCast presentation continuing across ESPN platforms.
This deal marks ESPN’s second significant college sports media rights extension in 2024, following the eight-year deal with the NCAA announced in January, which grants exclusive rights to 40 NCAA Championship events. ESPN now holds exclusive domestic rights to almost all major college championships except for men’s basketball, and international rights to all major college championships.