The CW network is reportedly interested in licensing College Football Playoff games from ESPN, according to a report by Drew Lerner of Awful Announcing on November 3, 2026. The potential deal would mark a significant expansion of The CW's sports programming portfolio, which has recently included broadcasts of ACC football and basketball games through its partnership with Raycom Sports.
ESPN currently holds the media rights to the College Football Playoff, which expanded to a 12-team format for the 2024 season. Any sublicensing agreement would require ESPN's approval and would likely involve select playoff games moving to The CW's broadcast platform. The CW, a joint venture between Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global, has been actively pursuing live sports rights to strengthen its programming lineup.
Neither The CW nor ESPN has officially commented on the reported discussions. The College Football Playoff's current media rights agreement with ESPN runs through the 2025 season, with negotiations for the next cycle already underway.
