Sources: CFP ‘on target’ to sort out revenue split
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Heather Dinich, ESPN Senior Writer
College Football Playoff leaders are “on target” to come to a resolution by the end of the week on a proposed revenue distribution and governance structure in the next contract, sources told ESPN, but some important conversations remain before they agree to sign a lucrative TV deal with ESPN.
Commissioners of the Mountain West Conference, Sun Belt, Mid-American Conference, Conference USA and American Athletic Conference aren’t keen on the proposed revenue distribution, which sources said would limit the Group of 5 conferences from making any substantial increase in revenue in the next contract, which would begin in 2026. One source described it a “slight uptick; nominal.”
The question is if there is enough pushback to delay or derail the progress — or if those leagues are simply in a tough spot and have to acquiesce or risk being excluded from the CFP. Sources have leaned toward the latter.
The CFP’s management committee was expected to have a conversation about it on Tuesday evening, and one source said the Group of 5 commissioners held their own separate call to address the issue.
Starting in 2026, ESPN is poised to spend an average of nearly $1.3 billion on the playoff for six seasons. The deal would include the final two years on the current CFP contract, plus a new six-year agreement for the next iteration of the playoff, sources told ESPN. ESPN is the sole rights-holder in the current, 12-year contract, which expires following the 2025 season. The CFP will expand from four to 12 teams this fall.
The Big Ten and SEC have made it clear the next contract will be more financially favorable than the current one, where 80% of the money is split evenly among the Power 5 leagues. Four power conferences remain following sweeping realignment, and the Big Ten and SEC have a combined 34 teams.
Sources told ESPN last month that discussions have centered around the SEC and Big Ten earning somewhere between 25% and 30% of the CFP revenue. The ACC and Big 12 would be next, and they’d earn somewhere between 15% and 20%. That leaves a smaller chunk — somewhere around 6% to 10% for the other leagues and nearly 1% for Notre Dame.
The math isn’t clean, sources caution, as some money needs to go to expenses and to places like current independent UConn and potentially Oregon State and Washington State, if they don’t join a conference in 2026. But those are the general financial ballparks being discussed. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has made it clear that the SEC has delivered 40% of the teams in the playoff and he has been one of the primary drivers behind a new revenue model.
The 10 FBS commissioners are using Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the details with their athletic directors, presidents and chancellors and gather feedback. One source said that “in a perfect world” they could come to an agreement on the revenue and TV deal as early as Thursday. Regardless of when there is a resolution, multiple sources have said the details of a format in 2026 and beyond — from the number of teams to how they qualify — won’t be settled until after the TV deal is done.
One clause that has been introduced and agreed upon according to sources is a “look-in” in 2028 to give the commissioners a chance to reevaluate the contractual agreements based on how the field and performance has unfolded to that point. There’s also a clause that permits that timeline to be accelerated if there is “material realignment” again.
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Dave Wilson
Amid a historic season at Texas Tech, the school announced on Tuesday that it has agreed on a new seven-year contract with coach Joey McGuire.
Sources confirmed to ESPN’s Pete Thamel that the new deal averages nearly $7 million per year. The school said it also includes incentives for future Big 12 and postseason success.
Under McGuire, the Red Raiders are No. 5 in the College Football Playoff ranking, having completed an 11-1 regular season with each win coming by at least 20 points. Texas Tech is making its first Big 12 championship appearance against BYU on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.
“We believe the future of Texas Tech Football has never been brighter under Coach McGuire’s leadership,” athletic director Kirby Hocutt said in a statement. “Our success this season is not a one-year plan. We fully intend to be an annual contender in the Big 12 Conference with our eyes on the College Football Playoff each and every season. We have the right leader in Coach McGuire to keep elevating this program, and this contract extension is a reflection of our investment in sustaining this success for years to come.”
McGuire is 34-17 in four years in Lubbock, tied for the most wins by a Texas Tech coach through that span since Jim Carlen from 1970 to 1973.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for Kirby Hocutt and our administration for the belief in this football program,” McGuire said in a statement. “I’ve said it countless times but my family and I love Lubbock, this university and this fan base. We expect to continue to elevate this program where appearances in the Big 12 title game, like this Saturday, and the College Football Playoff are expected on an annual basis.”
Yahoo Sports first reported terms of McGuire’s extension.
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Andrea Adelson
Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert has signed a long-term contract extension to stay with the Demon Deacons after an 8-4 season, the school announced Tuesday.
In his first year with the school, Dickert led Wake Forest to bowl eligibility for the first time since 2022, exceeding outside expectations. Wake Forest was picked to finish 16th out of 17 teams in the preseason ACC media poll.
Dickert said in a statement that Wake Forest will “further invest” in football.
“This commitment ensures that our staff has the stability, resources and support necessary to continue elevating Wake Forest football,” Dickert said. “I’m proud of this team, our staff and our seniors who built the foundation for this new era, and excited for what’s ahead.”
Wake Forest had two Top-25 wins this year over Virginia and SMU, snapping the Mustangs’ 20-game regular-season conference winning streak.
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