On Thursday, the college football world learned that a move to a 24-team College Football Playoff in 2027 was likely in the works – a move which would double the amount of teams that currently make the playoff, and reportedly eliminate conference championship games.
This highly controversial move has split the college football world in debate on whether or not the move is a good thing, or the end of college football as we have always known it.
And while everyone is going to have their opinion on that matter, there's another, more immediate impact of the move that will affect a handful of team's who already have their 2027 schedule complete, including the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Breaking: The College Football Playoff is nearing a deal to expand to 24 teams, sources tell @PeteThamel.
— ESPN (@espn) October 15, 2026
The new format will start in 2027 and is expected to come together in the near future, pending final approvals. pic.twitter.com/jwSAEWwdgO
Will move to a 24-team CFP require the West Virginia Mountaineers to change their 2027 schedule?
According to reports, the move to a 24-team playoff format also is set to include a provision that requires all Power 4 teams to schedule at least 10 power conference opponents each season. That's relevant to West Virginia because the Mountaineers are currently one of just 11 programs in Power 4 conferences who do not meet that requirement with their 2027 schedule.
The Big 12 plays a nine-game conference schedule, which leaves three non-conference games on the schedule each season. And on West Virginia's 2027 schedule, those three games are currently filled by one FCS opponent (VMI) and two Group of 6 opponents (Ohio and Southern Miss).
If the CFP adopts the 24-team expansion deal with ESPN, it would come with a requirement that all P4 schools play at least 10 P4 games. Eleven schools do not meet that requirement in 2027.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) October 15, 2026
A timely post in our @On3 sports biz column from today on that - https://t.co/ELK1Nkr24w
That means that barring some sort of special exception made for the 2027 season, the Mountaineers will need to alter their schedule next season. So what's the solution?
Ideally, West Virginia would be able to pick up a game with a regional, historic rival like Maryland, Pitt, Syracuse, or Virginia Tech. But that is understandably a difficult move to make this close to the 2027 season, with most teams having their schedule complete.
And there are also several teams in other Power 4 leagues that currently don't have 10 games against Power 4 opponents scheduled, so West Virginia could turn to one of these teams as well.
What may cause a bit of a stir is that half of these teams will have to give up a home game against Group of 6 competition to schedule an away game against a Power 4 team, which is not a favorable situation.
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