Poised to expand to 12 teams this fall, the postseason tournament has reached nearly $8 billion with ESPN through the 2031-32 season.
Disney’s sports division and the CFP have put together a pair of media deals to ensure ESPN remains the exclusive global rights holder through the 2031-32 season. The extension was expected, although other suitors expressed interest during the intervening period when the CFP was exploring alternatives to ESPN, which was its media partner when the playoffs first began at the end of the 2014-15 season.
ESPN will expand its current package for the final two years (through the 2025-26 season), adding all four new first-round games each year to ESPN’s current six-pack for the new year, which will now be CFP quarterfinals and semifinals. These preliminary rounds will be followed by the CFP National Championship game, which will begin simulcast on ABC in the 2026-2027 season.
After the current deal expires, ESPN and the CFP have agreed to a separate 6-year agreement beginning in 2026-2027. This will include the entire CFP, which includes exclusive rights to all expanded playoff rounds – the first round, quarterfinals, semifinals and national championship, as well as rights to all additional programs associated with the playoff.
The two parties did not disclose the financial terms, but multiple press reports pegged the value at $1.3 billion annually for a six-year extension, with the total price reaching about $7.9 billion.
Both the amended two-year agreement and six-year extension allow ESPN to sublicense a specified number of games.
“ESPN has worked closely with the College Football Playoff over the past decade to build one of the premier events in American sports. We look forward to strengthening our valuable relationship over the next two years, and then continuing that for six more as we begin an era,” said ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro. New and Expanded Playoffs.” “This agreement solidifies ESPN as the home of college football, as well as the destination for the vast majority of major college leagues over the next eight years.”
CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock declared this “an important day for the CFP and for the future of college football. The depth of coverage ESPN provides the sport throughout the season is unparalleled. There is no better platform to showcase this iconic tournament as we transition to the new 12-team format.”
The CFP contributed the most-watched days in ESPN’s nearly 45-year history. College Football on ESPN represents the top 15 and more than 50 of the top 100 most-watched cable programs of all time since 1987.