College Football Playoff Overseers Open 30 Day Window to Negototiate PO Expansion with ESPN

College Football's ten conferences and Notre Dame voted unanimously to open a 30-day window for discussions with ESPN regarding possible PO expansion.

Significantly, the SEC joined in the vote. Without the SEC's vote, no PO expansion beyond 12 teams would have been considered.

The Big Ten would not have voted in favor unless the discussion centered on expanding to 24-teams; perhaps with a 16-team field for a year or two to facilitate the expansion to 24-teams.

Previously, the Big Ten agreed that if the PO field expanded to 24-teams, B1G teams would play 10 Power 4 games every season, joining the SEC, ACC, and B12.

The current PO broadcast agreement concludes in 2031-32. With expansion to 24, ESPN would continue to broadcast at least 11 PO games, with 10 games potentially put out to bid. (Currently, ESPN licenses a few PO broadcasts to TNT.)

During the 30-day window, ESPN has the right to match any offers from other networks and streaming entities. Fox wants to be a part of the PO broadcasts and will likely come with a generous offer that could include CBS and NBC.

Dunce Tony Petitti is on the threshold of becoming the smartest guy in the room. 😍

On3