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More teams, more games, and bigger stakes as the CFP enters a groundbreaking new chapter
The College Football Playoff (CFP) ushers in a new era this season, marking the first year of the expanded 12-team format. As the CFP celebrates its 11th year, the long-awaited expansion promises a thrilling playoff experience with more teams, more games, and greater stakes. The 2024-25 bracket, officially revealed on Sunday, Dec. 8, lays out an action-packed postseason that culminates in the National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
This evolution in the playoff system comes after a decade of four-team brackets that saw dynasties like Alabama, Georgia, and Clemson dominate the college football landscape. With the expansion, additional programs now have the opportunity to contend for a national title, offering fresh matchups and more drama on college football’s biggest stage. “The 12-team format opens doors for deserving teams and builds the kind of energy fans have been asking for,”CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock said, according to ESPN.
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CFP stands for College Football Playoff, a single-elimination tournament in which the best regular season teams face off for a ticket to the national championship game. This new format began in 2014 and recently went through a major transformation.
The 12-team playoff structure significantly changes the competitive landscape of college football. Programs outside the traditional powerhouse schools now have a legitimate pathway to the championship. “We’ve seen great teams left out in the past,”ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit commented. “This format ensures those deserving of a shot get their chance on the field.”
The four highest-ranked teams that automatically qualified receive a bye to the second round of the competition, whilst seeds five through to 12 take on each other in order to book their place in the next stage.
After the first round concludes, the remaining teams enter the quarterfinals. Whoever wins there then heads through to the semi-finals, and then the National Championship game.
If a game is tied after four quarters, it heads into overtime, where each team gets one possession from the opponent’s 25-yard line. The team with the most points after the first overtime wins.
The College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinal and semifinal rounds are played in the New Year’s Six bowl games: Peach Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Cotton Bowl.
The first round kicks off on Friday, Dec. 20, and Saturday, Dec. 21, featuring four games hosted on campus sites:
The quarterfinals, spread across Dec. 31 and Jan. 2, elevate the excitement with New Year’s Six bowl games doubling as playoff matchups:
Winners from the quarterfinals advance to the semifinal stage:
The grand finale of the 2024-25 season will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta:
Texas, entering as the No. 5 seed, is widely considered a top contender.
Among them, Alabama leads the way with eight playoff appearances.
From the early days of shared titles to the definitive championships of the modern era, college football’s storied history is filled with legendary teams, unforgettable moments, and powerhouse programs that dominated the sport. You can check the full list out on the click above.
The two teams that reach the National Championship Game collect around $20 million each.
© Unidad Editorial Información Deportiva, S.L.U. All rights reserved.
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