About the 12-Team College Football Playoff Format (2024)

ABOUT THE 12-TEAM COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FORMAT


  • The 12 participating teams will be the five conference champions ranked highest by the CFP selection committee, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams.

  • The ranking of the teams will continue to be done by a selection committee.

  • The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded one through four and will receive a first-round bye. The fifth conference champion will be seeded where it was ranked or at No. 12 if it is outside the top 12 rankings. Non-conference champions ranked in the top four will be seeded beginning at No. 5. Because of this, the seeding, 1 through 12, could look different than the final rankings.

  • The eight teams seeded No. 5-12 will play in a first round with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds either on campus or at other sites designated by the higher-seeded institution (No. 12 at No. 5, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7 and No. 9 at No. 8.).

  • The selection committee will assign the four highest-ranked conference champions to Playoff Quarterfinals hosted by bowls. This will be done in consideration of historic bowl relationships, then in consideration of rankings. For example, if the Sugar Bowl hosts a Playoff Quarterfinal and the SEC champion is ranked No. 1 and the Big 12 champion is ranked No. 3, the SEC champion would be assigned to the Sugar Bowl and the Big 12 champion would be assigned elsewhere.

  • With the four highest-ranked conference champions assigned to bowls, their four Playoff Quarterfinal opponents will be dictated by the bracket (i.e., No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 winner, No. 4 vs. No. 5/12 winner, No. 2 vs. 7/10 winner; No. 3 vs. 6/11 winner.)

  • The College Football Playoff bracket will follow the selection committee’s rankings, with no modifications made to avoid rematches between teams that may have played during the regular season or are from the same conference.

  • The bracket will remain in effect throughout the playoff (i.e., no re-seeding).

  • The highest seed will receive preferential placement for the Playoff Semifinal bowl assignment.

  • All 11 games will be under the CFP umbrella with the administrative policies determined by the CFP.



2024-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE AND BRACKET

CFP FIRST ROUND (ON-CAMPUS)
Fri., Dec. 20, 2024:
One Game
Sat., Dec. 21, 2024:
Three Games
PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS
Tue., Dec. 31, 2024:
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
Wed., Jan. 1, 2025:
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
(early afternoon)
Wed., Jan. 1, 2025:
Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential
(late afternoon)
Wed., Jan. 1, 2025:
Allstate Sugar Bowl
(primetime)
PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS
Thur., Jan. 9, 2025:
Capital One Orange Bowl
Fri., Jan. 10, 2025:
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
2025 CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mon., Jan. 20, 2025
Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

About the 12-Team College Football Playoff Format (2)



2025-26 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE AND BRACKET

CFP FIRST ROUND (ON-CAMPUS)
Fri., Dec. 19, 2025:
One Game
Sat., Dec. 20, 2025:
Three Games
PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS
Wed., Dec. 31, 2025:
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Thur., Jan. 1, 2026:
Capital One Orange Bowl
(early afternoon)
Thur., Jan. 1, 2026:
Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential
(late afternoon)
Thur., Jan. 1, 2026:
Allstate Sugar Bowl
(primetime)
PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS
Thur., Jan. 8, 2026:
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
Fri., Jan. 9, 2026:
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
2026 CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mon., Jan. 19, 2026
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

About the 12-Team College Football Playoff Format (3)


About the 12-Team College Football Playoff Format (2024)
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