ATLANTA — The road to Atlanta might become more crowded.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is scheduled to host the college football national championship game following the 2024 season. That could be the first season of the expanded playoff after the College Football Playoff board voted unanimously on a 12-team format announced Friday. Atlanta will host the final two teams in 2024 in the current four-team playoff system. There would be even more traffic to Atlanta should the format be implemented earlier than the planned 2026 season. Miami will host the national championship following the 2025 season.
Starting the new playoff format next season has been ruled out, according to College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock. But there is an eye on Atlanta as a possible start.