Expanded CFP brings tougher schedule rules: Who’s non-compliant in 2026, needs changes for 2027?

After months of chatter, the College Football Playoff officially announced on Monday its move to 24 teams beginning in 2027, along with all the changes that would accompany it.

Playoff expansion will not only mean more teams in the field and the end of conference championship games, but also have a massive impact on the schedule going forward. Each team now has two bye weeks each season, but will need to make the most of that extra week off because teams in the Power Four will now have to play 10 Power Four opponents (or Notre Dame) on their schedules.

With each of those conferences expanding to nine-game conference schedules, teams must find one Power Four non-conference opponent to add to their schedules to qualify for College Football Playoff consideration.

The majority of teams already hit that mark, but it will force a handful of programs to scramble over the coming months to adjust their 2027 schedules (and beyond) to meet that new requirement.

A handful of teams are currently saved by a unique carve out for Oregon State and Washington State under the new rules. For 2027, Oregon State and Washington State still count as P4 teams after the…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/