The landscape of college football is changing once again. ESPN’s Heather Dinich reported that the CFP is moving to a 24-team field in 2027. CFP and ESPN agreed to a five-year deal worth nearly $1.7 billion.
The 24-team format is the third expansion in the College Football Playoff era. From 2013 to 2023, there were four teams in the field. In 2024, the current 12-team model made its debut.
The format is not confirmed yet, but it will likely have 19 at-large bids, four spots for Power Four champions and one spot for the highest ranked Group of Six champion. With the expanded field, conference championships game will be eliminated from the schedule.
While many fans may be disappointed in the break from tradition, Ole Miss is a beneficiary of the switch to 24 teams.
In the College Football Playoff era, Ole Miss has finished its season in the Top 24 six times. Despite this, the Rebels only hold one playoff berth.
With the new playoff format, Ole Miss, along with all other programs, can afford to lose three or four games and still play for a national title. The SEC switched from eight to nine conference games ahead of the 2026 season. This means the Rebels will face an extra conference opponent moving forward, and therefore play an extra high-quality game. Naturally, another high-quality game creates an additional opportunity for a loss, which the expanded playoff will accommodate for.
Ole Miss will likely shift its preseason expectations to a “playoff or bust” mindset, in which any season that does not at least end in a CFP appearance is a complete failure. Consecutive missed playoffs from a head coach could end with a termination or a hot seat.
Expectations have increased since the Rebels’ Sugar Bowl win earlier this year, but, with a 24-team CFP, just making the dance will not be enough. The program will need to consistently win playoff games.
If there had been a 24-team format in place last season, Ole Miss would have enjoyed a first-round bye as the No. 6 seed before a home matchup against the winner of Georgia Tech and Notre Dame.
The playoff situation is one to monitor, as the details are not final. This season will still end with a 12-team field, and that is where head coach Pete Golding and the Rebels should keep their focus for now.
