ESPN, College Football Playoff extend media rights agreement through 2031 season

ESPN and the College Football Playoff, or CFP, have reached a pair of media agreements that ensures ESPN will continue as the exclusive, worldwide rightsholder to college football’s postseason event through the 2031-32 season. The exclusive home of the CFP since its inception in 2015, ESPN will expand its current package for the final two years, adding all four of the new first round games each year to ESPN’s existing New Year’s Six and the CFP National Championship rights in the new 12-team playoff that will launch this Fall. In addition, ESPN has secured a new, six-year agreement – beginning in the 2026-27 season – for the entire CFP, which includes exclusive rights to all rounds of the expanded playoff – first round, quarterfinal, semifinal and National Championship, as well as continued exclusive rights to all ancillary programming connected to the playoff, such as the CFP Selection Show, weekly Top 25 Rankings Shows and more. In both the amended two-year agreement and new six-year extension, the CFP provides ESPN with the right to sublicense a select number of games. Beginning in the 2026-27 season, ESPN will broadcast the CFP National Championship on ABC in addition to offering its MegaCast presentation across ESPN platforms. In all, the new agreement includes expansive rights to simulcast or MegaCast CFP games across all Disney platforms, including TWDC Direct-to-Consumer offerings. The new, six-year agreement also provides expanded sales and sponsorship opportunities that will cement Disney Advertising as the exclusive seller of the College Football Playoff Official Partner Program and broaden Disney Advertising’s ability.