College Football Playoff: How it Works in 2024 and Beyond

Starting in the fall of 2024, college football will see a significant transformation with the expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP) from four teams to 12. This new format is aimed at providing more opportunities for top-ranked teams to compete for a national championship. Here’s an overview of how the expanded CFP will work.

Team Selection and Qualification

The new 12-team playoff field will be determined by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, which remains largely unchanged from the previous system. The top 12 teams will include the five highest-ranked conference champions, ensuring that major conferences are represented, but there are no automatic guarantees for any specific conferences. The next seven highest-ranked teams, regardless of conference affiliation, will also secure a spot.

Notably, there are no limitations on how many teams can qualify from a single conference. Power conferences such as the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC are expected to consistently send multiple teams, but there will also be room for top champions from smaller conferences like the Mountain West or Sun Belt.

Seeding and First-Round Byes

One key change with the 12-team format is how seeding works. The top four highest-ranked conference champions will receive the coveted first-round byes, while the remaining eight teams will face off in the first round. Unlike the selection committee’s ranking system for the top 25 teams, these conference champions must earn their spot by winning their leagues, ensuring that merit and not just rankings determine the first-round byes.

For the teams ranked fifth through twelfth, the first-round matchups will be hosted by the higher-seeded teams, either on their campus or at a designated location chosen by the school. These first-round matchups will take place in late December, and teams will then advance to neutral-site games for the quarterfinals and beyond.

Quarterfinals and Semifinals

The quarterfinal games will be hosted by traditional bowl games such as the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and others in the New Year’s Six lineup. The semifinals and national championship will rotate between major bowl venues and be played in early January. The national title game will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in 2025.

No Re-seeding and the Role of the Selection Committee

One major rule in the new system is that there will be no re-seeding after each round. Once the playoff bracket is set on Selection Day, teams will maintain their seeded positions throughout the tournament, meaning that a team’s path to the title is clear from the start.

The CFP Selection Committee will continue to meet weekly, starting in early November, to release their rankings leading up to the final decision. The committee evaluates teams based on several factors such as championships won, strength of schedule, and head-to-head results. Importantly, the committee will not avoid rematches in the playoff bracket, meaning teams from the same conference could potentially meet again during the playoffs.

Changes for Independent Teams

Teams not affiliated with a conference, like Notre Dame, will be eligible for the CFP, but they will not be able to earn a first-round bye due to their independent status. The same applies to schools in temporary scheduling arrangements, such as Washington State and Oregon State, which will have to navigate unique challenges in this evolving structure.

What This Means for the Future of College Football

The expansion of the College Football Playoff reflects the evolving landscape of college athletics, where the demand for broader access to championship opportunities has grown. For fans, it promises more excitement, more meaningful late-season games, and the chance to see underdog teams rise through the ranks. As for schools, especially from smaller conferences, it provides a clear path to national relevance and the ability to compete against the powerhouses of college football.

With this new system, college football has created a playoff model that better mirrors other sports, where teams can control their destiny on the field.