2024-25 College Football Playoff Bracket

CFP Bracket updated following Selection Sunday.

The 2024-25 season marks the first year of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff format. The field will consist of the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams, as determined by the CFP selection committee.

The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded 1-4 and receive a first-round bye. The other eight teams will be seeded 5-12, with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds in the first round.

First-round games will be played on campus on Dec. 20-21. Quarterfinals will take place at the Fiesta, Peach, Rose and Sugar Bowls on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, followed by the semifinals at the Orange and Cotton Bowls on Jan. 9-10. The national championship is set for Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta.

The final CFP Rankings were released on Dec. 8 following conference championship weekend. Oregon, Georgia, Boise State and Arizona State all received a bye, while eight other teams will duke it out in the opening round of the postseason.

Looking to bet on a team in the CFP Bracket to win the National Championship? Make sure to check out the best college football betting apps for the CFP National Championship.

CFP Playoff Picture

Here’s how the inaugural 12-team field shakes out:

Key Storylines

The inaugural 12-team field is loaded with compelling narratives. Oregon capped off a perfect regular season to claim the top seed in their first year as Big Ten members. Boise State made history as the first Group of 5 program to earn a coveted first-round bye, while SMU’s selection over Alabama will be debated for years to come.

The Big Ten flexed its muscles with four teams in the field, while an intriguing in-state battle between Indiana and Notre Dame adds local flavor to the opening round. Georgia, meanwhile, begins its quest for a third national title in four years from the No. 2 spot.

CFP First-Round Matchups

The first round features four great matchups, all hosted by the higher-seeded team:

Keys to Watch

(10) Indiana at (7) Notre Dame

The in-state rivals meet in South Bend with serious bragging rights on the line. Indiana’s explosive offense (38.4 PPG) faces its toughest test against Notre Dame’s stingy defense.

(11) SMU at (6) Penn State
SMU makes its first-ever playoff appearance after a stunning run to the ACC title game. They’ll face a Penn State team that’s battle-tested from the loaded Big Ten East.

(12) Clemson at (5) Texas
Two of college football’s biggest brands square off in Austin. Clemson’s defensive front vs Texas’s high-powered passing attack could decide this one.

(9) Tennessee at (8) Ohio State
Points should come in bunches when these offensive juggernauts meet. The Vols and Buckeyes both average over 35 points per game.

Teams with First-Round Byes

These four teams earned the ultimate playoff reward – a first-round bye. By winning their conference championships and dominating the regular season, Oregon, Georgia, Boise State, and Arizona State secured automatic advancement to the quarterfinals.

How the 12-Team College Football Playoff Works

The 12 teams will be the five conference champions ranked highest by the CFP selection committee, plus the seven highest-ranked remaining teams. The ranking of teams will continue to be done by the 13-member CFP selection committee.

The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded 1-4 and receive a first-round bye. The other eight teams will be seeded 5-12 based on their ranking, with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds in the first round:

• No. 12 at No. 5
• No. 11 at No. 6
• No. 10 at No. 7
• No. 9 at No. 8

The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in bowl games on a rotating basis. The quarterfinals will take place at four of the New Year’s Six bowls – the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl. The Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl will host the semifinals.

The national championship game will remain at a neutral site, similar to the Super Bowl. Cities will bid to host the title game.

CFP Frequently Asked Questions

Where Are the College Football Playoffs This Year?

The first-round games will take place on the campus of the higher-seeded team on Dec. 20-21, 2024. The quarterfinals will rotate among the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025.

The semifinals are at the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl on Jan. 9-10, 2025. The national championship game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. This marks the first time the title game has returned to a previous host city.

When Are the College Football Playoffs?

The first-round games will kick off on Friday, Dec. 20 and Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. The quarterfinals are on Dec. 31, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025.

Both national semifinal games (the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl) will be played on Jan. 9-10, 2025. The 2024-25 College Football Playoff will conclude with the National Championship Game at 7:30 pm ET on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 in Atlanta.

When Did the College Football Playoff Start?

The four-team College Football Playoff came into existence during the 2014-15 NCAA football season. The 2024-25 season will mark the first year of the expanded 12-team format.

Prior to the College Football Playoff, the BCS National Championship was in effect from 1998 to 2014. There was no official national championship game before 1998.

How Do Teams Qualify for the College Football Playoff?

Under the new 12-team format, the field will consist of the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams as determined by the CFP selection committee.

There are no limits on the number of teams per conference that can make the playoff field. The ranking of teams will continue to be done by the CFP selection committee, which will remain largely unchanged in its composition and protocols.

Which Bowl Game Is the National Championship?

Unlike in the early BCS era (1999-2006) when an existing bowl game functioned as the title game, each season’s title game has simply known as the National Championship Game since the 2006-07 NCAAF season.

Existing bowl games are still tabbed for the national semifinals, with the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl getting the nod this season.

When Is the College Football Playoff Expanding?

The College Football Playoff has officially expanded to 12 teams beginning with the 2024-25 season.

The CFP Board of Managers originally voted in September 2022 to expand the playoff to 12 teams starting in 2026, but later announced in December 2022 that the expanded format would begin two years earlier in 2024.

Who Is on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee?

The composition of the group changes frequently, but for the 2024-25 season, the 13-member committee is comprised of the following people.

*Denotes committee chair.

We’ve got a few sportsbook recommendations that feature massive sign-up promos to get you started with college football betting this year.

Same game parlays are one of the best ways to enjoy wagering on NCAA football, and claiming a DraftKings promo code will have you well on your way to experiencing their unique Same Game ParlayX (SGPX) feature. If you’re on the lookout for bonus bets to use on college football games, then go ahead and unlock the BetMGM promo code, as they’ve earned a reputation for handing out the most bonus bets on a regular basis. Speaking of bonus bets, make sure you sign up for a Bet365 bonus code if you’re eligible, as they’ve got a huge Bet $1, Get $200 in Bonus Bets promo for new customers.