Marcus Freeman supports expansion to 24-team College Football Playoff
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Nov 9, 2026, 7:32 PM
Last updated Nov 9, 2026
Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman expressed his approval of the transition to a 24-team College Football Playoff (CFP) scheduled for 2027. The change, announced on November 9, aims to remove conference championship games and allow more teams to qualify, increasing opportunities for teams like Notre Dame, which missed the 2025 CFP despite a 10-game winning streak. Freeman highlighted the benefits for scheduling and playoff accessibility. Under this new format, Notre Dame would have started the 2025 playoffs as a No. 11 seed against Georgia Tech.
- •Freeman endorsed the move during a news conference.
- •The 24-team format eliminates conference championship games.
- •Notre Dame missed the 2025 playoffs despite a strong finish.
- •The new agreement with ESPN extends through the 2031-32 season.
- •Notre Dame would have played Georgia Tech in the first round under this format.
- 8:23 PMYahoo Sports — Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman offers mixed reaction to 24-team CFP expansion
- 7:32 PMYahoo Sports — Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman approves of move to 24-team CFP
"Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman isn’t completely sold on expanding the College Football Playoff, but he understands why a larger field could benefit the Fighting Irish. The College Football Playoff officially approved a 24-team format on Monday, with the expansion set to begin in the 2027 season. While the decision creates more opportunities […] The post Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman offers mixed reaction to 24-team CFP expansion appeared first on ClutchPoints.
"Notre Dame would have opened at home as a No. 11 seed against No. 22 seed Georgia Tech under a 24-team CFP format in 2025.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsNov 9, 2026, 8:23 PMNotre Dame’s Marcus Freeman offers mixed reaction to 24-team CFP expansion
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman isn’t completely sold on expanding the College Football Playoff, but he understands why a larger field could benefit the Fighting Irish. The College Football Playoff officially approved a 24-team format on Monday, with the expansion set to begin in the 2027 season. While the decision creates more opportunities […] The post Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman offers mixed reaction to 24-team CFP expansion appeared first on ClutchPoints.
- Yahoo SportsNov 9, 2026, 7:32 PMNotre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman approves of move to 24-team CFP
Notre Dame would have opened at home as a No. 11 seed against No. 22 seed Georgia Tech under a 24-team CFP format in 2025.
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