Further expansion of the College Football Playoff could potentially happen as soon as the 2026 season, according to Heather Dinich.

Dinich, ESPN’s lead CFP insider, appeared on ESPN’s Get Up show Friday morning and discussed the possibility of expanding the playoff.

Dinich says a 16-team CFP is gaining even more “momentum” and could be put in place for next season, should that format be agreed upon by two certain commissioners.

“My sense, in talking to sources, is that there’s more momentum than ever to go to a 16-team field, possibly as soon as 2026, if SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti can agree to it,” Dinich said. “Right now, that stalemate still exists. Those two men have the bulk of control over the future format.”

The deadline to decide the CFP’s 2026 format is Jan. 23.

“The deadline is at the end of the month, in order to change it if they are going to,” Dinich said. “And if they cannot agree, it will stay at 12 for now.”

This season marks the second CFP with 12 teams after the four-team playoff was in place from 2014-23.

Clemson has made seven all-time CFP appearances, tied for the second most behind Alabama (nine).

The Tigers appeared in the four-team field every year from 2015-20 and made the inaugural 12-team field in 2024, falling at Texas in the first round.