On Monday, news broke that the long-awaited media rights deal between the College Football Playoff (CFP) and ESPN had been reached, and that the new 24-team playoff would begin in 2027.
\n\nThe deal, a whopping 5-year, $1.7 billion agreement, plans to use a 19+4+1 format, in which 19 automatic-bid teams would qualify, plus the four conference champions from the Power 4 (even though conference championship games are eliminated by the expanded format, and one at-large bid from the Group of 6 conferences rounding out FBS.
\n\nThe deal was celebrated by CFP and ESPN officials who heralded the expansion as an historic initiative that would make the playoff even more exciting. Fans, however, blasted the deal as corporate greed under the guise of doing “what’s best” for the game.
\n\nIn particular, fans took exception to CFP Executive Rick Clark, who said he knew fans weren’t supporting the expansion to 24 teams, but they were going to do it anyway.
\n\n“We’re aware of the fan sentiment and that many fans aren’t in favor of expansion. That was certainly weighed into the decision. It was considered,” Clark said. “Ultimately we just need to make a spectacular Playoff. I mean, the CFP has a…
Original source: https://www.breitbart.com/sports/
