- The 2024-25 College Football Playoff | Everything You Need to Know About the New 12-Team Format
- NFL Draft Prospects You Need to Watch | Bowl Week 1
From Columbus to Eugene, and everywhere in between, college football fans have clamored for a playoff system. My friends, your pleas have been answered. That time has finally arrived. The end of the 2024 college football regular season marks the debut of an expanded 12-team College Football Playoff system. This new college playoff system is a significant change from the previous four-team format, aiming to provide greater access and excitement in the quest for a National Championship.
How Does Selection Work in the 2024-25 College Football Playoff?
Selection Committee: The selection committee is comprised of men and women from the world of college football. The list includes former athletic directors, coaches, players, and journalists. They will select and rank the teams using the criteria listed below.
Five Automatic Bids: The five highest-ranked conference champions receive automatic bids. This year, that list includes Big Ten champion Oregon, SEC champion Georgia, Mountain West champion Boise State, Big 12 champion Arizona State, and ACC champion Clemson from the ACC.
Seven At-Large Bids: The seven highest-ranked teams that are not conference champions are granted at-large bids, completing the 12-team field. This year’s seven at-large teams are Notre Dame; Tennessee and Texas from the SEC; Indiana, Ohio State, and Penn State from the Big Ten; and SMU from the ACC.
How Does Seeding Work in the 2024-25 College Football Playoff?
Top Four Teams Have a Bye: The four highest-ranked conference champions are seeded 1 through 4 and receive first-round byes, advancing directly to the quarterfinals. This year, the teams who have earned a bye are, in order by rank, Oregon, Georgia, Boise State, and Arizona State.
Remaining Eight Teams: The other eight teams will be ranked and seeded by the committee. They will play in the first round with the higher seeded team in each matchup earning the right to play a home game at their campus’s stadium. Once seeded, there will not be any reseeding throughout the playoff.
Anything Else To Know?: The selection committee’s ranking and ultimate seedings are not one and the same. The committee’s rankings will still be used to determine the highest-ranked conference champs, but that could potentially mean that a highly-ranked team which does not win their conference will be seeded lower than the conference champions who earned a bye.
Finally, by definition, Independents cannot win a conference title and therefore can not earn a bye. Sorry, Notre Dame, UConn, and UMass fans. This rule also applies to former PAC 12 teams like Oregon State until they find a new conference home.
What is the Structure of the 2024-25 College Football Playoff?
First Round: Teams seeded 5-12 compete in the 1st Round, with matchups as follows: 5 vs. 12; 6 vs. 11; 7 vs. 10; and 8 vs. 9. These games are hosted at the better-seeded team’s home field or a designated alternate venue.
- (12) Clemson at (5) Texas
- (11) SMU at (6) Penn State
- (10) Indiana at (7) Notre Dame
- (9) Tennessee at (8) Ohio State
Quarterfinals and Semifinals: The winners from the 1st Round advance to face the top four seeds in the quarterfinals. Both the quarterfinals and semifinals will be held at traditional bowl sites like the Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl on a rotating basis.
National Championship: The two semifinal winners compete in the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, held at a neutral site determined in advance.
What is the Schedule for the 2024-25 College Football Playoff?
First Round
- Indiana at Notre Dame (ABC/ESPN) | Friday, December 20th at 8pm.
- SMU at Penn State (TNT/Max) | Saturday, December 21st at 12pm.
- Clemson at Texas (TNT/Max) | Saturday, December 21st at 4pm.
- Tennessee at Ohio State (ABC/ESPN) | Saturday, December 21st at 8pm.
Quarterfinals
- Fiesta Bowl: Boise State vs winner of SMU/Penn State | Tuesday, 12/31 at 7:30pm. (ESPN)
- Peach Bowl: Arizona State vs winner of Texas/Clemson | Wednesday, 1/1 at 1pm. (ESPN)
- Rose Bowl: Oregon vs winner of Ohio State/Tennessee | Wednesday, 1/1 at 5pm. (ESPN)
- Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. winner of Notre Dame/Indiana | Wednesday, 1/1 at 8:45pm. (ESPN)
Semifinals
- Orange Bowl: Thursday, 1/9 at 7:30pm. (ESPN)
- Cotton Bowl: Friday, 1/10 at 7:30pm. (ESPN)
2025 College Football Playoff National Championship Game
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia | Monday, 1/20 at 7:30pm. (ESPN)
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For more college dynasty content, check out our latest Rookie Mock Draft presented by the Dynasty Nerds’ film room and our NFL Prospects Writing Staff:
