Photo via Yahoo Sports

ESPN and Fox’s Multimillion-Dollar Sacrifice Confirmed in Push for 24-Team Playoff

The push for a 24-team college football playoff is forcing ESPN and Fox to make a costly sacrifice, as both networks stand to lose two of their most-watched annual broadcasts. The Big Ten Championship—last year’s Indiana vs.

Ohio State matchup drew 18.33 million viewers on Fox—along with the SEC title game (15.75 million for Georgia vs. Alabama on ABC) would be eliminated under the proposed expansion.

ESPN’s financial hit is estimated at $345 million annually over the next five years, though the network will recoup $140 million yearly by canceling its own rights to the SEC, ACC, and Big 12 championship games. Fox, which holds rights to the Big Ten title game, will receive roughly $50 million annually in compensation, though it loses one of its highest-rated broadcasts.

The networks are betting billions on the playoff’s expansion, with ESPN’s existing $7.8 billion deal running through 2031, and the new format set to begin in 2027. Talks between the College Football Playoff and ESPN remain ongoing, though no formal contract has been finalized.

Up nextCollege Football· 1h ago

Marcus Freeman Makes Notre Dame’s Playoff Expansion Stance Clear to Keep Key Advantage Despite Scheduling Changes