{
  "version": "1.0",
  "checkedOn": "2026-10-15",
  "comparisonSeason": "2027 football season ending January 2028",
  "dollarBasis": "Constant 2026 USD millions for user scenarios; no inflation conversion is performed by this tool.",
  "scope": "CFP inventory plus an explicit Power 4 title-game adjustment. Other bowls, the National Tournament, transition and regular-season changes need separate reconciliation.",
  "economicWinner": null,
  "financialStatus": "Missing retained settlements, negotiated alternative rights values, complete costs and enforceable funding. No financial forecast established.",
  "formats": [
    {
      "id": "CFP12",
      "teams": 12,
      "status": "Official 2026–27 structure used as the comparison baseline",
      "games": 11,
      "campus": 4,
      "bowls": 6,
      "neutralFinal": 1,
      "firstRoundByes": 4,
      "doubleByes": 0,
      "longestPlayoffPath": 4,
      "p4TitleGames": 4,
      "rounds": [
        4,
        4,
        2,
        1
      ],
      "sourceIds": [
        "ECON-CFP-RULES"
      ],
      "singleByes": 4
    },
    {
      "id": "BCF18",
      "teams": 18,
      "status": "BetterCFB proposal",
      "games": 17,
      "campus": 10,
      "bowls": 6,
      "neutralFinal": 1,
      "firstRoundByes": 10,
      "doubleByes": 2,
      "longestPlayoffPath": 5,
      "p4TitleGames": 4,
      "rounds": [
        4,
        6,
        4,
        2,
        1
      ],
      "sourceIds": [
        "ECON-BCF-PROPOSAL"
      ],
      "singleByes": 8
    },
    {
      "id": "CFP24",
      "teams": 24,
      "status": "Reported proposal; final approval and commercial terms pending",
      "games": 23,
      "campus": 16,
      "bowls": 6,
      "neutralFinal": 1,
      "firstRoundByes": 8,
      "doubleByes": 0,
      "longestPlayoffPath": 5,
      "p4TitleGames": 0,
      "rounds": [
        8,
        8,
        4,
        2,
        1
      ],
      "sourceIds": [
        "ECON-ESPN-24",
        "ECON-CFP-STATEMENT"
      ],
      "singleByes": 8
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "ECON-CFP-RULES",
      "title": "CFP: current 12-team rules",
      "date": null,
      "checkedOn": "2026-10-15",
      "url": "https://collegefootballplayoff.com/sports/2024/5/29/12-team-format",
      "type": "Official rules"
    },
    {
      "id": "ECON-BCF-PROPOSAL",
      "title": "BetterCFB: actual 18-team proposal",
      "date": null,
      "checkedOn": "2026-10-15",
      "url": "https://bettercollegefootball.com/proposal/18-team-playoff",
      "type": "Proposal"
    },
    {
      "id": "ECON-ESPN-24",
      "title": "ESPN: reported 24-team plan",
      "date": "2026-10-15",
      "time": "1:57 p.m. ET",
      "checkedOn": "2026-10-15",
      "url": "https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/50190410/sources-college-football-playoff-nearing-deal-24-team-format",
      "type": "Original reporting; anonymous sources; pending approvals"
    },
    {
      "id": "ECON-CFP-STATEMENT",
      "title": "CFP: expansion negotiations continue",
      "date": "2026-10-15",
      "checkedOn": "2026-10-15",
      "url": "https://collegefootballplayoff.com/news/2026/10/15/cfp-statement",
      "type": "Official statement; no commercial price published"
    }
  ],
  "inputContract": {
    "baseline": 12,
    "perimeter": "CFP, conferences, schools and bowl/event operators consolidated. Broadcasters and regional effects are separate.",
    "fields": [
      {
        "id": "incrementalReceipts",
        "unit": "USDm, constant 2026",
        "definition": "Change in external receipts from added and retained events, including changed rights receipts; excludes removed events."
      },
      {
        "id": "incrementalCosts",
        "unit": "USDm, constant 2026",
        "definition": "Change in external operating, travel, access, transition and other costs for added/retained events; excludes removed-event costs."
      },
      {
        "id": "lostContribution",
        "unit": "USDm, constant 2026",
        "definition": "Foregone external revenue minus avoided external cost of removed title games, bowls and other events. Signed; a removed loss-making event can have a negative contribution."
      }
    ],
    "missingValues": "null; never zero",
    "formula": "incrementalReceipts - incrementalCosts - lostContribution",
    "cashTiming": "Annual change does not establish cash available before bills are due.",
    "inputStatus": "User assumptions unless separately documented. Examples are invented arithmetic, not a financial estimate."
  }
}