Handshake Agreement Reportedly Moves College Football Toward 24-Team Playoff

Wilkes Barre Scranton Hazleton, PA, October 16, 2026 —

A trending topic in the Wilkes Barre-Scranton-Hazleton area describes a “handshake agreement” between the College Football Playoff and ESPN as a step toward a 24-team college football playoff. The summary does not provide details about the agreement or say that an expanded playoff has been formally approved.

The available information characterizes the arrangement as moving college football closer to a 24-team format. It does not specify what the College Football Playoff and ESPN agreed to, whether the understanding is binding, or what steps would be needed before a larger field could take effect.

No timeline for a possible change was provided. The summary also does not identify the people involved, disclose financial or broadcast terms, or explain how teams would qualify for a 24-team tournament. It does not say whether any other organizations or stakeholders took part in discussions.

As a result, the extent of the reported agreement remains unclear from the information available. The trend identifies ESPN and the College Football Playoff as parties to a “handshake agreement,” but offers no further details to establish its scope or status. It also does not provide a statement from either party confirming the arrangement.

The topic points to a possible move toward a substantially larger playoff field, while leaving key questions unanswered. Whether the 24-team format has been formally adopted, when it might begin, and what specific terms were discussed were not provided in the summary.

Story summarized from the original created by EDDIE PELLS, Associated Press on www.2822news.com, see more information here.

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