ESPN and the College Football Playoff have agreed to a massive new rights deal that will keep the postseason format on the network through the 2031 season, according to a report from The Athletic. ESPN and the playoff originally agreed in 2012 to a 12-year deal worth $5.64 billion, or roughly $470 million annually. That agreement expires after the 2025 season. According to The Athletic, the annual payout will be $608 million for the final two years of the original deal. According to the report, the extension starting for the 2026 season is for six years and $7.8 billion and makes ESPN the continued broadcast partner ... (full story)