The College Football Playoff just dropped a bombshell on Monday, officially announcing its move to a massive 24-team field starting in 2027. This isn’t just about more teams in the hunt, folks, it’s a total game-changer for scheduling that has some Power Four programs scrambling already for their 2027 calendars. Get ready for some serious overhaul because things are about to get wild.
Bye Bye Conference Champs, Hello Power Four Mayhem
This 24-team Playoff isn’t just expanding the field, it’s also kicking conference championship games to the curb. Every team now gets two bye weeks per season, which sounds nice, right? But here’s the catch: Power Four teams, which includes Notre Dame, are now on the hook to play 10 Power Four opponents on their schedules. With conferences already beefing up to nine-game conference schedules, that means teams *must* find one additional Power Four non-conference opponent to even be considered for the CFP. A lot of teams already hit that mark, no sweat. But a handful of programs are now in a serious bind, needing to adjust their 2027 schedules over the next few months to meet this wild new requirement. It’s a mad dash!
A few squads are temporarily saved by what we’re calling the Oregon State and Washington State rule. For now, those two old Pac-12 standouts still count as Power Four teams, according to sources at CBS Sports. That’s good news for Ole Miss, who plays the Beavers, and for Washington, Arizona, and Kansas, who all get the Cougars in 2027. The ACC, thanks to their scheduling alliance with Notre Dame and some in-state rivalries, is actually compliant across the board. But a whole bunch of Big Ten and Big 12 teams? They’ve got work to do.
Who’s Scrambling to Fix 2027?
When we say “scramble,” we mean it. Several big names are already feeling the heat:
* **Indiana:** The Hoosiers are staring down a light non-conference slate in 2027. Games against Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, or Indiana State will have to get chopped to make room for a newly scheduled Power Four game. They need an opponent, fast.
* **Oregon:** Oh man, the Ducks are hoping for a big bounce-back in 2027, but they absolutely need a schedule change before they even kick off. Their non-conference schedule currently features Eastern Washington, Coastal Carolina, and Western Kentucky. One of those has to go for Dan Lanning’s crew to even be eligible for the Playoff. You know they’re not going to miss out, so expect a move there.
* **USC:** Lincoln Riley and the Trojans are in a tough spot. They’ve only got two non-conference games locked in with UNLV and Nevada. That open date on their schedule is now prime real estate for a Power Four opponent. The pause in their Notre Dame series really left a void, and they’ve gotta fill it.
* **Texas Tech:** Just like USC, the Red Raiders still haven’t filled out their 2027 schedule with a 12th game. Guess what? They’re also on the hunt for a Power Four opponent to complete their slate.
So, while we’re still a few years out from 2027, the clock is ticking for programs like Indiana, Oregon, USC, and Texas Tech. They’ve got to make some big-time moves to get compliant, and it’s going to be wild to see how these schedules shake out. Get ready for some major shuffling in the college football world!
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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