The College Football Playoff format has undergone its first change in a decade, transitioning to a new 12-team structure. This change is set to ignite a new level of competition, enabling the top teams to vie for the national title in a more intense and competitive environment.
Under the expanded format, the five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed a spot in the CFP, receiving automatic bids. Among these, the four highest-ranked conference champions secure first-round byes and progress directly to the quarterfinals.
The top four teams in the Playoff include Big Ten champion Oregon, who earned the No. 1 overall seed and will play in the Rose Bowl. Georgia, the SEC champion, secured the No. 2 seed and will compete in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Boise State, the Mountain West champion, holds the No. 3 seed and will play in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Finally, Big 12 champion Arizona State rounds out the top four with the No. 4 seed and will participate in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
The teams seeded from No. 5 to No. 12 will engage in win-or-go-home first-round games. Here’s a breakdown of what bowl games make up the College Football Playoff bracket:
WHO WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP?Our College Football Playoff bracket predictions
The College Football Playoff quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games:
The College Football Playoff national championship game will not be among the six aforementioned bowls. It will take place on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The College Football Playoff first round is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 20 and Saturday, Dec. 21. ABC and ESPN will televise two of the four games, while TNT will broadcast the other two.
Fans looking to cut the cord can also stream the action with a Fubo subscription.
All times Eastern
FRIDAY, DEC. 20
SATURDAY, DEC. 21
The four quarterfinal games will be played on New Year’s weekend, with one game on Dec. 31 and three on Jan. 1. All games will be televised by ESPN.
All times Eastern
TUESDAY, DEC. 31
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 1
The semifinal games will be played Jan. 9 and Jan. 10. Both games will be televised by ESPN.
All times Eastern
THURSDAY, JAN. 9
FRIDAY, JAN. 10
MONDAY, JAN. 20
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