Notre Dame fans may want to get ready for a different playoff world. A 24-team College Football Playoff is no longer some far-off idea - it’s moving fast, and the latest round of meetings only pushed the process closer to the finish line.
Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports reported Wednesday evening that CFP leaders took another step toward expanding beyond the current 12-team format. The meeting happened in the Big Ten’s backyard, though Dellenger noted that was more coincidence than a deliberate home-field play by commissioner Tony Petitti, who had originally backed the larger format.
CFP executive director Rich Clark made clear the big pieces are already in place. “We've worked through a lot of the other issues associated with [a 24-team] expansion and those things needed to happen before we started any kind of negotiation [over money],” he said Wednesday. That language made the situation sound less like a debate and more like a formality still waiting on the final numbers.
The 24-team idea, first introduced as a realistic proposal by Petitti and the Big Ten last August, has gained momentum in recent months after looking dead for a while because of the SEC’s resistance. The SEC wanted a 16-team field instead, but the Big Ten countered by blocking any move to just four more teams and holding firm that 24 was the only expansion it would support.
Notre Dame, the ACC, and the Big 12 had initially lined up with the SEC, another major obstacle to the plan. That changed in March, when all three programs shifted and said they would support the move if the money made sense. More recently, even the SEC has shown signs of backing off its opposition to doubling the playoff field.
On Wednesday, CFP executives met in person for the first time since opening a 30-day negotiating window with ESPN over an expanded field. The talks now include scheduling, logistics, and the possibility of eliminating conference championship games. Coaches have favored that last part since the playoff expanded to 12 teams, and plenty of schools have indicated it would be the likely outcome if 24 teams becomes reality.
The deadline to strike a deal or stay at 12 teams is October 9, but with more than a week left, there appears to be enough time to sort out the remaining details.
Dellenger summed up the stakes this way: “Would CFP executives really spend hundreds of hours over scheduling and logistics only to decide against expanding to 24 teams? It's unlikely, especially when considering that "the money is there," as one CFP stakeholder told Yahoo Sports. It's a reference to the single biggest determining factor on expansion: Can the power leagues recuperate the revenue lost from the elimination of their conference championship games?”
In Other News...
Notre Dames 2027 Schedule Just Got Tougher After One Opponent Bailed
Notre Dames 2027 football slate picked up a new road test this week when Virginia was added as the 12th opponent on the schedule. The Cavaliers will host the Fighting Irish at Scott Stadium on an undisclosed date, filling the opening left after Georgia Tech backed out because of changes to ACC scheduling.
The shift is another reminder of how quickly long-range schedules can change when conference rules start moving pieces around. Beginning in 2027, the ACC is requiring teams to play more league games, and Notre Dames matchup with Virginia is the latest ripple effect for a program that always has to balance its independent schedule against the realities of its ACC ties. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame May Have Found A Difference-Maker Up Front
Sullivan Absher has quickly become one of the more interesting developments up front for Notre Dame this season, stepping into a starting role at right guard and helping steady an offensive line that has looked noticeably sharper with him in the mix. His first appearance in the 2026 season came in the second half against Wisconsin, and the timing lined up with a clear lift in the Irish ground game, while the overall unit has also held up well in pass protection.
Abshers presence has been part of a broader improvement for Notre Dame, which has done a strong job keeping quarterback CJ Carr clean and giving the offense more balance. The Irish now rank fourth nationally in sacks allowed, a sign that the front has done more than just survive early-season tests. Whether Absher remains a fixture in that spot will matter, because Notre Dame may have found a lineman who changes the feel of the whole offense. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Sneeds Notre Dame Rise Says A Lot About This Defense
Jaylen Sneeds rise has become one of the clearer signs of where Notre Dames defense stands entering the heart of the season. Now in his fifth year, the veteran linebacker has grown into a key piece for the Irish by leaning into the programs culture and adjusting to the coaching changes around him, a path that has helped turn promise into dependable production.
Sneed has pointed to maturity and confidence as major reasons for the jump, along with his comfort in Chris Ashs defensive system. He is third on the team in tackles and continues to be one of the most important presences on that side of the ball, which makes his next step worth watching as Notre Dame keeps leaning on its defense. [Read more 🡒]