The College Football Playoff could be getting a massive makeover, and college football fans should prepare for a postseason unlike anything they've seen before.

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, the CFP is nearing a deal to expand to 24 teams beginning in 2027. The format is expected to come together in the near future, pending final approvals, potentially giving more programs a chance to compete for a national championship.

The expansion would be a major change for a sport that has already moved from a four-team playoff to 12 teams. While a 24-team field would create more games and give fans additional postseason matchups, it is also guaranteed to spark plenty of debate.

The old-school crowd will have concerns about the change. Are there really 24 teams capable of winning a national championship in a given season? Under this format, the field could include numerous teams with two or more losses, along with programs that never even reach their conference championship games. That raises questions about what it means to earn a playoff spot and whether expanding the field will dilute the importance of the regular season.

Conference championship games could take a hit, too. If teams can qualify for the playoff without winning their conference or even participating in the title game, those matchups might lose some of their significance.

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Still, a 24-team playoff would bring plenty of chaos, and that could make for an entertaining postseason. More teams would have a shot at a championship, but the bigger field would also challenge the traditions that have defined college football for decades.

If the deal gets final approval, the 2027 season could mark the beginning of a completely different era for the sport.