Printable College Football Playoff Bracket – Make Your Picks for the CFP!

• The 2024 College Football Playoff has expanded to 12 teams, transforming the championship landscape
• First-round games begin December 20-21, with the National Championship set for January 20, 2025
• Download and print your 2024 CFP bracket to track all the action from the first round through the title game

The wait is over! The College Football Playoff Committee has revealed its historic first 12-team field for the 2024-25 playoff. Join the excitement by downloading SBD’s printable 2024 College Football Playoff Bracket.

Below, you’ll find details on the new playoff format, seeding structure, key dates to remember, and potential upset alerts as we enter this new era of college football.

Printable College Football Playoff Bracket

Click on the image below to open and download a PDF of the printable bracket.

The 12-team tournament kicks off with first-round games at campus sites on December 20-21. The top four seeds receive first-round byes, while seeds 5-12 battle it out in the opening weekend.

How Does the 12-Team Playoff Work?

The expanded playoff revolutionizes college football’s postseason with home-field advantage, conference champion priority, and those coveted first-round byes all playing crucial roles in crowning a champion.

Five conference champions earn automatic bids, with the top four receiving first-round byes. Seven at-large spots go to the next highest-ranked teams, creating the most inclusive playoff field in FBS history.

2024-25 College Football Playoff Schedule

Seeds 5-8 host first-round games on campus, bringing playoff football to college stadiums for the first time. Winners advance to the quarterfinals at traditional bowl sites, maintaining the sport’s most cherished postseason traditions.

First-Round Matchups to Watch

The inaugural playoff delivers four can’t-miss games at some of college football’s most iconic venues:

No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame (Dec. 20, 8:00 PM ET, ABC/ESPN) –

Friday night lights in South Bend kick off the expanded playoff era. The Fighting Irish get home field advantage, but keep an eye on those December temperatures – this could be a classic cold-weather slugfest.

No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State (Dec. 21, 12:00 PM ET, TNT/Max) –

The Mustangs snuck in over Alabama and now face what could be a White Out atmosphere at Beaver Stadium. SMU’s high-powered offense meets its biggest test yet.

No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas (Dec. 21, 4:00 PM ET, TNT/Max) –

DKR will be electric as the Longhorns host their first-ever playoff game. Texas aims to prove the committee right after some controversy about their selection.

No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State (Dec. 21, 8:00 PM ET, ABC/ESPN) –

Prime time in the Horseshoe features two proud programs looking to make a statement. The Vols’ tempo vs. the Buckeyes’ physicality could be the matchup of the weekend.

The Path Through the Quarterfinals

Winners from the first round face a quick turnaround into these quarterfinal matchups:

• Fiesta Bowl: SMU/Penn State winner vs. No. 3 Boise State
• Peach Bowl: Clemson/Texas winner vs. No. 4 Arizona State
• Rose Bowl: Tennessee/Ohio State winner vs. No. 1 Oregon
• Sugar Bowl: Indiana/Notre Dame winner vs. No. 2 Georgia

Looking for Betting Advice?

With first-round games at campus sites, this isn’t your typical bowl season handicapping. Here’s what the sharp money should be watching:

Weather Warriors (UNDER Alert) – Bundle up if you’re heading to South Bend or Happy Valley. The forecast calls for temperatures in the low 20s with a chance of snow at both venues. These conditions scream UNDER, especially in South Bend where both teams bring top-20 defenses to the party.
Road Dogs with Bite – Indiana (+7.5) looks juicy against Notre Dame. The Hoosiers’ top-ranked offensive success rate should help them keep pace, even in hostile territory. Tennessee (+7.5) also deserves a long look – that tempo could give Ohio State fits, especially with the Buckeyes breaking in new defensive starters.

Home Field Heroes – Penn State (-8.5) should feast on SMU’s suspect run defense. The Mustangs haven’t faced an atmosphere like a White Out at Beaver Stadium all year, and it shows in their road splits.