The College Football Playoff made it official on Monday: we’re getting a 24-team bracket kicking off in 2027! This isn’t just about more teams in the dance, though. This move brings a complete overhaul to how Power Four teams gotta build their schedules, and it means some serious scrambling ahead for 2027. Forget everything you thought you knew about balancing those non-conference matchups. This new era means a whole different kind of pressure.
10 P4 Opponents? Welcome to the New Grind
So, here’s the deal: with the CFP expanding to 24 teams in 2027, there are some fresh rules. Every P4 team now has to play ten Power Four opponents (or Notre Dame) to even be considered for the playoff. Think about that for a second! P4 conferences are already moving to nine-game conference schedules, which means these teams are gonna have to find *one* P4 opponent for their non-conference slate. It’s a grind, no doubt. The good news is, teams will also get two bye weeks each season. You’re gonna need ’em.
Now, a lot of teams are actually already set, which is great. The ACC, for instance, is totally compliant thanks to their scheduling alliance with Notre Dame. And get this: Oregon State and Washington State still count as P4 teams for 2027. That’s a huge lifeline for some programs! Ole Miss gets the Beavers on their schedule, and our pals Washington, along with Arizona and Kansas, are lucky enough to have the Cougars lined up for 2027. They’re good to go.
These P4 Squads Just Got a Massive To-Do List
While some teams are set, a handful of Big Ten and Big 12 squads have some serious work ahead of them to make their 2027 schedules compliant. We’re talking about dropping games, scrambling for new opponents, and probably some frantic phone calls between athletic directors.
First up, there’s **Indiana**. Their non-conference slate for 2027 is looking pretty light, and they are definitely going to have to cut one of Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, or Indiana State to make room for a P4 matchup. Ouch! Then you’ve got **Oregon**. Coach Dan Lanning’s squad is hoping for a big 2027, but they have Eastern Washington, Coastal Carolina, and Western Kentucky on their non-conference schedule. One of those is getting axed, no question, so they can get playoff eligible.
Over on the West Coast, **USC** and Coach Lincoln Riley are in a bind. They’ve only got UNLV and Nevada locked in for non-conference games right now. That means a huge open date on the schedule that *has* to be filled by a P4 opponent. The pause in their Notre Dame series really left a hole they need to plug. And don’t forget **Texas Tech**. They haven’t even filled out their 2027 schedule with a 12th game yet, and guess what? That final spot needs to be a Power Four team.
The clock is ticking for these programs to get their schedules sorted. We’re talking about their entire playoff consideration being on the line here! It’s going to be wild watching these athletic departments try to pull off some last-minute scheduling magic over the coming months. Stay tuned to see who lands who for 2027, because it’s going to tell us a lot about who’s serious about that new 24-team CFP.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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