TNT Sports Will Broadcast Some College Football Playoff Games

The College Football Playoff announced Wednesday that TNT Sports will sublicense certain CFP games in the 12-team format over the next two seasons, and even more beginning in 2026. 

The network will show two first-round College Football Playoff games in the next two seasons and will add two quarterfinal games during the following three seasons.

"It is exciting to add TNT Sports, another highly respected broadcaster, to the College Football Playoff family," said Bill Hancock, Executive Director of the College Football Playoff. "Sports fans across the country are intimately familiar with their work across a wide variety of sports properties over the past two decades, and we look forward to seeing what new and innovative ideas they bring to the promotion and delivery of these games."

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 8: Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) drops back to pass during the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game at NRG Stadium, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Houston. (Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Sources told OutKick that the setup will feature ESPN talent within the broadcasts much like CBS does during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament through its partnership with Turner Sports. It is unclear who from the TNT side of the talent pool - if anybody - will be included in the broadcasts.

"We’re delighted to reach this agreement with ESPN, providing TNT Sports the opportunity to showcase these College Football Playoff games on our platforms for years to come," said Luis Silberwasser, Chairman and CEO of TNT Sports. "TNT Sports aims to delight fans and drive maximum reach and engagement for these marquee games."

College football playoff broadcasts will be under same umbrella

The new setup for the CFP might seem like it spreads the wealth of the sport around. In reality, it only furthers ESPN/Disney’s near monopoly it has on the college football world as these telecasts will still fall under the same umbrella. 

The company has full control over every aspect of the SEC’s media rights, as well as virtually all control over the ACC. The Big Ten has an agreement with the network too, but also spreads its programming across the media landscape as it has contracts with CBS and NBC.

The first round of the new, 12-team CFP will take place Dec. 20-21 at the home stadiums of the higher seeded teams. The Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl will serve as the quarterfinals on New Year’s Eve/Day. 

The Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl will act as the national semifinals on Jan. 9 and 10, respectively. The College Football Playoff National Championship will take place on January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.