College Football Playoff News & Highlights - ESPN (2025)

Projecting the College Football Playoff top 12, plus five things we learned in SeptemberWe assess how the committee would stack the top teams in the country after Week 5.13dHeather DinichMichael Reaves/Getty Images

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Projecting the College Football Playoff top 12: Tennessee or Ohio State?We assess how the committee would stack the top teams in the country after Week 4.20dHeather Dinich

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A new No. 1 in the projected top 12 and a ranking of the most impactful noncon winsWe assess how the committee would stack the top teams in the country after Week 3, plus a look at whose wins in September will earn them bonus points on Selection Day.27dHeather Dinich

NCAAF

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Projecting the CFP committee's top 12: Notre Dame might not have the schedule to recoverIt's not CFP ranking season yet, but we assess how the committee would stack the top teams in the country after Week 2.34dHeather Dinich

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Projecting the College Football Playoff committee's top 12One week into the season, we assess how the committee would stack the top teams in the country.39dHeather Dinich

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Ex-coach Riley joins CFP selection committeeMike Riley, the former head coach at Oregon State and Nebraska, is replacing Pat Chun on the College Football Playoff selection committee.161dHeather Dinich

NCAAF

CFP, ESPN agree to $7.8B deal through '31-32ESPN remains the sole media rights holder for the expanded College Football Playoff under a new six-year, $7.8 billion deal that runs through the 2031-32 season.206dHeather Dinich

NCAAF

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Sources: CFP closer to expected 14-team fieldThe CFP is on the brink of moving one important step closer to an expected 14-team playoff that would begin in 2026, as the 10 FBS conferences and Notre Dame are set to meet a Friday deadline to agree to the next contract.211dHeather Dinich and Pete Thamel

NCAAF

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Sources: CFP 'on target' to sort out revenue splitCFP leaders are "on target" to come to a resolution by the end of the week on a proposed revenue distribution and governance structure in the next contract, sources told ESPN's Heather Dinich.213dHeather Dinich

NCAAF

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Sources: CFP auto byes may be axed after outcryWhile there continues to be support for a 14-team College Football Playoff field starting in 2026, discussions about how teams should qualify for it remain a sticking point.217dHeather Dinich

NCAAF

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Money, power plays and the Rose Bowl: The many times we almost had a playoff, and why the attempts failedBelieve it or not, but in its more than 150 years, college football has often argued for a real champion-deciding playoff system. It has failed at every turn, for various reasons, but there are lessons to remember as the sport begins its new era.219dBill Connelly

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Sources: Optimism building for 14-team CFPThere is optimism and "momentum" for a 14-team College Football Playoff starting in 2026, sources told ESPN, with an effort to reach a deal in the coming weeks.226dPete Thamel and Heather Dinich

NCAAF

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CFP approves 5+7 model for 12-team playoffThe College Football Playoff's new format will feature the five highest-ranked conference champions in the expanded 12-team field, along with the seven highest-ranked teams, the CFP announced Tuesday.234dHeather Dinich

AlabamaNCAAF

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Inside Nick Saban's school of QB development, from practice field trash talk to Sunday morning film sessionsJalen Milroe's meteoric rise this season has helped land Alabama in the College Football Playoff? How did it happen? ESPN spoke to seven of Saban's quarterbacks at Alabama to find out.275dAlex Scarborough

NCAAF

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The Victors: Wolverines dominate in face of chaos for national titleAfter a season of controversy, for a program that could never seem to fully break through, Michigan finishes 15-0 and atop the college football world.277dRyan McGee

WashingtonNCAAF

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Despite bitter disappointment, Huskies set tone for bright new futureWashington had been gearing itself up to compete in Houston all year long, but the Huskies fell flat against Michigan.277dKyle Bonagura

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Sources: CFP, ESPN discussing new 6-year dealThe College Football Playoff is in talks with ESPN about a new six-year deal to be sole rights holder through the 2031 season, sources told ESPN.277dHeather Dinich and Pete Thamel

Florida StateNCAAF

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CFP notified FBI over threats after FSU exclusionThe CFP contacted the FBI after threats were made toward executive director Bill Hancock, staff members and selection committee following FSU's exclusion.277dHeather Dinich

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Connor Stalions, George Kliavkoff lurk in shadows of title gameThe presence of the disgraced ex-Michigan staffer and commissioner of the Pac-12 hang in the air in Houston.278dRyan McGee

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CFP National Championship score predictions: Washington gets the nodThe time is almost here for the national title game, but first our reporters, analysts and pundits predict the final score.278dESPN staff

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Championship confidential: The five defining storylines for Michigan-WashingtonWho wins the battle between Washington's offensive line and Michigan's defensive line? Can Michigan keep the ball out of Michael Penix Jr.'s hands? Scouts and coaches on the title game's biggest storylines.279dPete Thamel

WashingtonNCAAF

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Rome Odunze and the prolific receiving corps behind Washington's offenseWashington's receiving corps has been one of the best in the entire country in no small part because of Rome Odunze.280dKyle Bonagura

WashingtonNCAAF

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Washington RB Johnson 'ready to rock and roll'Washington running back Dillon Johnson won't be fully healthy for Monday night's College Football Playoff National Championship game, but he says he's "ready to rock and roll" against Michigan.279dPete Thamel

MichiganNCAAF

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Harbaugh advocates for player revenue-sharingMichigan coach Jim Harbaugh advocated for revenue sharing among college athletes, suggesting coaches should cut their salaries by 5-10% and pool it to share with the players.279dDave Wilson