The College Football Playoffs aren’t leaving ESPN for a long time.
The sports network has struck a six-year, $7.8 billion deal with the organizers of the CFP that extends its existing agreement through the 2031-32 season, according to The Athletic (login required).
The deal comes as college football is set to expand the playoffs to a 12-team format, up dramatically from the four-team playoffs from the last few years. The new format, which includes the six highest-ranked conference champions getting automatic bids, greatly increases the number of games that will air on ESPN. It also keeps one of the most popular sports at ESPN at a time when Big Tech companies like Amazon and Apple are increasingly eyeing more sports streaming rights.
The deal hasn’t been finalized, and still needs to process the collapse of the Pac-12 conference, which saw its members disperse into different conferences, according to the report. The last two, Oregon State University and Washington State University, said in December that they would be joining the West Coast Conference.
The various commissioners and presidents still need to vote on the structure and financial details of the expanded playoffs, the report noted.
Both ESPN and College Football Playoff declined to comment.
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