As excitement builds over college football, we take a closer look at the upcoming changes for the 2024-25 season. For the first time ever, the College Football Playoff (CFP) will feature a 12-team playoff format, which brings a fresh twist to postseason play.
The selection committee will rank the top 25 teams during the season. From this ranking, the playoff bracket will be formed. Out of the top teams, the four highest-ranked conference champions will earn byes into the quarterfinals, while the fifth-best conference champion will also qualify, but without a bye. This format aims to increase competition and give more teams the opportunity to compete for the national championship.
According to the latest rankings revealed on November 19, Boise State is currently sitting pretty as the fourth-highest-ranked conference champion, only losing to the top-ranked Oregon team. With their solid standing, they are slated for a bye into the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, BYU, despite falling behind Boise State due to a recent loss, remains the fifth conference champion and has secured a spot in the playoffs, though not a bye.
Teams like Tennessee and SMU, ranked 11th and 13th respectively, are close but missed out on playoff spots as they place just outside the top ranks. The next wave of rankings is expected to be released on November 26.
When looking ahead at the bracket, the first round of matches will take place at campus sites on either December 20 or December 21. It’s important to note that there won’t be any re-seeding once the bracket is made official on December 8. After the initial round, the playoffs will feature four quarterfinal games held in major bowl games: the Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl, and Sugar Bowl, set for December 31 and January 1. Winners will progress to the semifinals on January 9 and 10 at either the Orange Bowl or the Cotton Bowl, leading to the national championship showdown on January 20 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
This year promises to be thrilling with many teams vying for a chance at glory. The new structure aims to offer fans and players alike a chance to experience a true playoff atmosphere in college football.
