The College Football Playoff Management Committee announced Monday that it unanimously approved Playoff expansion to 24 teams, beginning with the 2027-28 college football season.
This means that there will no longer be conference championship games, including the Southeastern Conference championship game.
The CFP also announced that it has reached a new media rights agreement with ESPN.
This agreement makes ESPN the exclusive, worldwide rightsholder to the expanded 24-team Playoff, beginning with the 2027-28 season.
The agreement also includes continued exclusive rights to all ancillary programming connected to the Playoff, such as the CFP Selection Show, weekly CFP Top 25 Rankings shows and more.
The SEC announced that the 2026 SEC Football Championship Game will be the final edition of the event. That game will be on Dec. 5 in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The SEC issued the following statement regarding the decision:
“The SEC Football Championship Game has been a defining event in college football for more than three decades, producing unforgettable moments and crowning legendary champions,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “What began with the vision and leadership of Commissioner Roy Kramer in 1992 helped reshape the landscape of college football and established a tradition that has endured for 35 years. As the sport evolves with an expanded College Football Playoff, we look forward to celebrating the remarkable legacy of this event with its 35th and final edition and recognizing the city of Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and AMB Sports and Entertainment, and the many partners who have contributed to its success.”
“The SEC Championship Game debuted on December 5, 1992, at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, as Alabama defeated Florida, 28-21. After a second edition at Legion Field in 1993, the game moved to Atlanta in 1994 and became a fixture at the Georgia Dome. The Georgia Dome hosted 23 consecutive SEC Championship Games from 1994 through 2016 before the event transitioned to its current home at Mercedes-Benz Stadium beginning in 2017. The game’s history spans three iconic venues and two host cities, each contributing to its enduring legacy.
“Over the 34 previous editions, the game has featured some of the most compelling matchups in conference history, drawing capacity crowds and helping launch 14 SEC teams to a national championship. With the shift to a 24-team playoff structure, the 2026 contest will mark the end of an era for the event that helped pioneer the modern conference championship format.”
READ MORE:End of an era: With switch to 24-team playoff model, coveted SEC championship game eliminated
