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ESPN and the College Football Playoff announced a finalized deal Tuesday that gives the network exclusive rights through the 2031-32 season. Financial terms were not disclosed, but The Athletic previously reported that the deal is a six-year extension worth an average of $1.3 billion annually.
There are two seasons left on ESPN’s original 12-year contract for the New Year’s Six Bowls (two of them CFP semifinals) and the national championship game. As part of the deal, ESPN is adding the four new first-round games involved in the expanded 12-team format that begins this season. The six-year extension begins in 2026-27.
ESPN, which has so far broadcast all CFP games on its main cable network, said it will move the national championship game to ABC starting in 2026-27. The company also has the option to sublicense “a select number of games” to other networks starting this season, which could allow companies like Fox, NBC and CBS to be part of CFP’s programming. The parties have committed to broadcasting a minimum of one game per round on a wireless network starting in 2026-27, a source briefed on the discussions said. The Athletic.
The $1.3 billion annual average marks an increase from the $608 million average in ESPN’s original seven-game deal that began in 2014-15. In the 12-team format that begins this season, four of those bowls become quarterfinal playoff games, and two other bowls host the semifinals in rotation.
Network executives previously said The Athletic the deal will remain at the same dollar figure even if the CFP opts to expand the field from 12 to 14 teams. The CFP met with numerous potential media partners during recent negotiations, but no other networks submitted a bid for any game.
“We look forward to enhancing our valued relationship (with the CFP) over the next two years and then continuing it for six more as we embark on this new, expanded playoff era,” ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement.
Terms of the deal with ESPN had been in place for some time, according to executives, but the conferences delayed approval due to a lack of clarity over the future structure of the event. Finally, last Friday, the nine continuing FBS conferences and Notre Dame approved a basic framework that includes an unequal distribution of revenue between the major conferences. Multiple sources briefed on the model confirmed that the Big Ten and SEC will receive more than $21 million per school, the ACC about $13 million each and the Big 12 about $12 million each, with about $1.8 million for the Group of 5 conferences as a whole. The rest goes to independents, including more than $12 million for Notre Dame and the Football Championship Subdivision.
The CFP’s internal contract includes a review clause in 2028, allowing the parties to potentially reshape the agreement based on performance or further conference realignment, according to several people familiar with the negotiations.
— The AthleticAndrew Marchand and Chris Vannini contributed reporting.
(Photo: Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for ESPN and CFP)