College Football Playoff Set for Major Expansion, Big Ten Championship Game Eliminated
The College Football Playoffs are expanding to 24 teams starting next year, a change that has officially eliminated the Big Ten Championship Game.
Harrisburg Lancaster Lebanon York, PA, November 9, 2026 — The landscape of college football is poised for a significant transformation with the upcoming expansion of the College Football Playoffs (CFP). Starting next year, the playoff field will grow from its current format to include 24 teams. This substantial increase in participating teams has led to a consequential decision regarding conference championship games, most notably the official elimination of the Big Ten Championship Game.
The move to a 24-team playoff structure represents a major shift from the previous 4-team model, aiming to provide more opportunities for teams across various conferences to compete for the national championship. The exact selection criteria and seeding for the expanded playoff are expected to be detailed further as the implementation date approaches.
A direct consequence of this expansion is the discontinuation of the Big Ten Championship Game. For years, this game has served as a high-stakes decider for the conference’s champion and a significant factor in the College Football Playoff selection process. Its elimination signifies a restructuring of conference play and postseason pathways within the Big Ten Conference.
Details surrounding the operational changes and the specific impact on other conference championship games as a result of the 24-team CFP format are anticipated to be released. The decision to expand the playoff field and alter the status of the Big Ten Championship Game marks a pivotal moment for collegiate American football, signaling a new era for postseason competition.
Story summarized from the original created by George Stockburger on www.abc27.com, see more information here.
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