College Football Playoff leaders agreed Tuesday to open a 30-day negotiating window with ESPN, the playoff's sole rights holder, according to multiple outlets. The move allows the CFP to weigh offers from ESPN regarding expansion of the playoff field.

CBS Sports reported the window covers options for both a 16-team and 24-team field, with a December 1 deadline to enact any changes for the 2027 season. ESPN and other outlets have emphasized that opening negotiations does not signal a commitment to expansion. "The move, if it happens, is not necessarily a commitment," Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger reported, noting that the CFP can either accept ESPN's offer or move to an open market.

The window represents the latest development in ongoing discussions about expanding the current 12-team playoff format, though no final decision has been made about whether the playoff will grow or what size it would become.