According to multiple media outlets, ESPN and the College Football Playoff are nearing an agreement to expand the CFP to 24 teams — a move that will significantly alter schedules starting next season.

According to the reports, the CFP will double in size from 12 teams to 24 starting next season once a new television contract with ESPN can be agreed upon. Both sides believe the deal is close to completion.

The new deal will have major consequences for all of FBS college football. The season will start a week earlier, normally in August — it started Sept. 5 for Texas A&M and most other teams this year — and the SEC, ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten championship games will be eliminated. There will be a single week off at the end of the regular season for all teams save for Army and Navy, who will play without any other games competing for viewership.

Reports suggest that the 24-team playoff will now have two rounds of playoff games played on college campuses before moving to neutral sites (the major bowls). The Power 4 conference champions will receive automatic bills, as will the highest-ranked Group of 6 team. The remaining 19 spots will all be wildcards.

The idea to expand the CFP to 24 teams came to the forefront almost immediately after the playoff expanded from four teams to 12 before the 2024 season. The major push for the 24-team playoff came from the Big Ten, which received support from the other major conferences — save for the SEC. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has consistently expressed a preference for a 16-team playoff, but was willing to move on the measure after receiving assurances on requiring tougher scheduling standards.

Sankey indicated to reporters at SEC Basketball Media Days that a deal on the expanded CFP was close earlier this week.