Report: College Football Playoff Nearing 24-Team Expansion for 2027 — What It Could Mean for Oklahoma State

STILLWATER, Okla. — The College Football Playoff could be on the verge of its biggest transformation yet, potentially doubling its field from 12 to 24 teams beginning in 2027.

According to a Thursday report from ESPN's Pete Thamel, college football leaders are nearing an agreement to expand the postseason, a development that could significantly change the national championship picture for programs like Oklahoma State.

The expansion has not been formally approved, but discussions have advanced far enough to make a 24-team field a serious possibility.

For the Cowboys, currently ranked No. 18 nationally, the implications are substantial.

Oklahoma State enters Week 7 with a 4-1 overall record, a 2-0 start in Big 12 play and four consecutive victories under first-year head coach Eric Morris.

The Cowboys are No. 18 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll, positioning them well within the range of teams that could qualify under the proposed expanded format.

One model under consideration would include the top 23 teams in the final College Football Playoff rankings, along with the highest-ranked Group of Six program.

Using the current AP poll as a hypothetical reference, Oklahoma State would be safely inside that 24-team field.

However, the AP rankings are not the same as the CFP Selection Committee's rankings, and a team's standing in October does not guarantee its position at the end of the regular season.

Under the current 12-team system, a team ranked 18th generally needs additional victories, help from other results or a conference championship to secure a postseason berth.

A 24-team field would create a much wider path for teams with strong seasons that fall short of winning their conference.

For Oklahoma State, that could mean competing for a national championship without necessarily needing to finish among the country's top dozen teams.

The proposed format resembles the postseason structure already used at the Football Championship Subdivision level.

Under one leading proposal, the top eight teams would receive first-round byes, while the remaining 16 teams would compete in eight opening-round games.

The winners would advance to face the eight teams that earned byes.

Early-round games would be played on campus, creating additional opportunities for schools to host meaningful postseason matchups.

That model would produce 23 playoff games, more than double the 11 contests played under the current 12-team format.

The FCS already uses a 24-team championship bracket with eight first-round byes, demonstrating that a postseason of this size can function in Division I football.

However, the proposed FBS format differs in important ways, including its approach to automatic qualification and the potential elimination of conference championship games.

Perhaps the strongest argument for expansion is that it would significantly reduce the controversy surrounding teams narrowly missing the playoff.

Under a 12-team format, the debate often centers on whether the final at-large selection should go to a Power Four program with multiple losses or a successful Group of Six team with a less demanding schedule.

A 24-team field would create more room for both types of programs.

Rather than debating whether the 12th- or 13th-best team belongs in the playoff, the discussion would shift toward teams near the bottom of a much larger field.

That would not eliminate controversy, but it could make the consequences of the final selections less significant.

The expanded bracket would also give more programs a realistic postseason opportunity while preserving the importance of high rankings through first-round byes and home-field advantages.

Still, opponents of expansion raise legitimate concerns.

A larger field could diminish the stakes of certain regular-season games, increase the number of mismatches and place additional physical demands on players.

There is also the question of whether including more teams would produce a more competitive championship tournament or simply create additional games between programs with substantial talent gaps.

Expansion could also fundamentally reshape college football's traditional postseason.

The leading 24-team proposal would eliminate conference championship games, opening additional calendar space for the expanded playoff.

That would be a major change for the Big 12 and the other Power Four conferences, where championship games currently help determine automatic playoff qualification.

Traditional bowl games could also face additional pressure as more teams compete in meaningful postseason games.

While bowls still provide opportunities for teams and their fan bases, the transfer portal, NFL Draft decisions and player opt-outs have complicated the appeal of some non-playoff matchups.

An expanded playoff could offer more programs something those bowl games cannot: an opportunity to compete directly for a national championship.

However, bowl games would not automatically disappear under a 24-team playoff, and their future role would depend on the final postseason structure.

For Oklahoma State, the timing of the proposed expansion is intriguing. The Cowboys have quickly established momentum under Morris, with quarterback Drew Mestemaker leading an explosive offense and the defense showing improvement during the team's four-game winning streak.

Oklahoma State's current No. 18 ranking illustrates how much the postseason landscape could change for programs outside the traditional national championship favorites.

Under the proposed model, the Cowboys would currently be in the conversation for a playoff berth rather than needing to climb several more spots to reach the field.

Whether a 24-team playoff ultimately improves college football remains open for debate. But if the format becomes reality in 2027, the path to competing for a national championship could become considerably more accessible for Oklahoma State and dozens of other programs.

For now, the Cowboys remain focused on the 2026 season and Saturday's Big 12 matchup at No. 20 Houston. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT on FOX.