ESPN to broadcast college football playoffs

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Bristol, Conn. • The college football playoff system will be televised on ESPN for 12 years once it starts after the 2014 season.

The network announced an agreement in principle Wednesday. The title game will be played on a Monday, at least a week after the semifinals.

The deal also includes broadcast rights for the three "host bowls" that will be in the semifinal rotation in years they're not holding playoff games. ESPN already had contracts for the same 12-year period through the 2025 season with the "contract bowls": the Rose, Sugar and Orange.

The agreement includes rights for TV, radio, mobile, online and international.

ESPN is in the middle of a four-year agreement to air the Bowl Championship Series.