NCAA Football Playoff Picture Starts to Take Shape

As the fall sports season continues, **Las Vegas** is buzzing with excitement over the upcoming changes to college football, specifically the new playoff format set to debut in the 2024-25 season. This will mark the first time that the playoff will feature a **12-team format**, and fans are eager to see how the selection committee will rank teams as the season progresses.

The **selection committee** recently released its top 25 rankings on November 19, outlining how the playoff bracket might look using current team standings. The top four highest-ranked conference champions will earn **first-round byes**, while the fifth conference champion will also make the playoffs but without the luxury of a bye. Currently, Boise State, which has only lost to top-ranked Oregon, stands as the fourth-highest-ranked conference champion and would secure a bye into the quarterfinals.

BYU, despite suffering a defeat last week, remains the fifth automatic qualifier. However, the Cougars have fallen behind Boise State in the rankings, leaving them in an automatic spot but not with a bye. Meanwhile, Tennessee and SMU, sitting at ranks 11 and 13, find themselves just outside the playoff picture.

The first-round games will take place on December 20 and 21 at campus sites, with a match-up format based on the initial bracket released on December 8. The top four seeds will face off eventually in prestigious bowl games, including the **Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl, and Sugar Bowl**. These quarterfinal matchups are scheduled for December 31 and January 1.

After the quarterfinals, the winning teams will advance to the semifinals held at either the **Orange Bowl** or the **Cotton Bowl** on January 9 and 10. Fans are anticipating an exciting national championship showdown on January 20 at **Mercedes-Benz Stadium** in Atlanta. This new setup is generating plenty of discussion as teams vie for their chance to compete for the coveted title this coming season.