ESPN is Overtaking Control of the College Football Playoff, Putting the Big 12 at a Big Disadvantage

According to ESPN, the College Football Playoff and ESPN are currently in discussions to extend the network's exclusive rights to the event for the next eight years, according to sources from ESPN on Monday.

The proposed deal would encompass the final two years of the existing CFP contract, along with a new six-year agreement for the subsequent iteration of the playoff, as reported by ESPN sources.

In a departure from the initial preferences of the 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who had favored a multi-partner broadcast model akin to the NFL, ESPN is poised to potentially retain sole rights. Negotiations are ongoing, and while nothing has been officially confirmed, sources suggest that ESPN is contemplating a payment of around $1.3 billion for the rights to the new six-year deal, beginning in the 2026 season.

ESPN has chosen not to provide comments on the matter at this time.

The current 12-year contract, in which ESPN holds exclusive rights, is set to expire after the 2025 season. Notably, the CFP is scheduled to expand from four to 12 teams starting this fall.

Bill Hancock, the executive director of the CFP, mentioned that the organization is no longer in the exclusive negotiating window with ESPN. However, details of the ongoing negotiation remain confidential.

Sources indicate that a sticking point, namely a sublicense agreement, has been resolved. This agreement would empower ESPN to sell rights to certain games, a prospect that has garnered interest from Fox Sports, according to the sources.

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