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College Football Playoffs expanding to 24 teams in 2027; SEC Championship to end with 2026 game
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2026 SEC Championship will officially be the last time the game will be played as the College Football Playoff expands to a 24-team format in 2027.
The College Football Playoff, in its new, doubled format, will do away with conference title games in other conferences as well. The new format will have five automatic qualifiers, including champions from the Power Four leagues. The other 19 teams will be chosen by a selection panel.
The top eight seeds will receive first-round byes, and the playoff will start on the second weekend in December.
The 2026 SEC Football Championship Game, which will be played on Dec. 5 in Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, will be the 35th edition of the game that began in 1992.
"As the sport evolves with an expanded College Football Playoff, we look forward to celebrating the remarkable legacy of this event with its 35th and final edition and recognizing the city of Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and AMB Sports and Entertainment, and the many partners who have contributed to its success," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement.
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