Atlanta, GA – As college football fans gear up for the much-anticipated national championship game, the official 12-team College Football Playoff bracket was revealed on December 8. Ohio State and Notre Dame are set to face each other for the championship title on Monday, January 20.
This year’s playoff format includes some interesting twists regarding seeding and rankings. Notably, the four highest-ranked conference champions receive the top four seeds, accompanied by a first-round bye, regardless of their ranking in the final top 25. The fifth-highest-ranked conference champion also secures a spot but does not get a bye.
As the playoff unfolds, fans can look forward to important games scheduled for December 31 and January 1, where the quarterfinals will take place at renowned bowl locations including the Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl, and Sugar Bowl. This setup allows for exciting matchups, contingent on the seeds holding as expected.
Among the key highlights, Boise State secured the third-highest ranking among conference champions, earning a bye into the quarterfinals despite being ranked No. 9. Arizona State, with a ranking of No. 12, claimed the fourth seed as the highest-ranked conference champion from the ACC, landing them a spot in the playoffs, somewhat unexpectedly, over No. 16 ACC champion Clemson.
As the playoffs progress, winners from the quarterfinals will head to the semifinals held at either the Orange Bowl or Cotton Bowl on January 9 and 10. Then, the champions from those games will converge on Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the grand finale on January 20, where the stage will be set for a thrilling showdown to determine the national champion.
This playoff structure promises an exciting few weeks ahead for college football fans, as teams vie for a chance at glory, and we eagerly await to see which team will walk away as champions!
