The College Football Playoff (CFP) expands to 12 teams for the 2024-25 season. Here’s how the new system works.
The 2024-25 season is a new format for college football. Previously, the selection committee chose four teams. The 12 teams are selected based on rankings by the CFP selection committee. This includes the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams overall.
Americans love and celebrate college football. It has been around since before the rise of the National Football League (NFL) and it is still hugely popular.
Seedings and Byes
Teams are seeded 1 to 12. The top four conference champions get byes to the quarter-finals. Seeds 5 to 12 play in the first round. Online sports betting enthusiasts can bet on more action than under the previous format.
First-Round Matches
First-round games are played at the higher seed’s home stadium.
These are the order of the matches:
- Seed 5 vs Seed 12
- Seed 6 vs Seed 11
- Seed 7 vs Seed 10
- Seed 8 vs Seed 9
Quarter-Finals
The four winners from the first round advance and they face Seeds 1 to 4 in the quarter-finals. Additionally, these games become part of the New Year’s Six bowls. In contrast, the Fiesta, Peach, Rose and Sugar Bowls will be part of the quarter-finals.
Semi-Finals and Championship
Winners from the quarter-finals move to the semi-finals in the New Year’s Six Bowls, including the Orange and Cotton Bowls. The final two teams then play in the National Championship Game.
Neutral Sites for Later Rounds
Teams will play the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the championship at neutral venues. The competition is thus fair and teams get to play in front of packed crowds.
More Teams, More Excitement, More Fairness
More teams compete in the new format. Hence, there will be more games and surprises. The 2024-25 season is the beginning of a new era in college football.
Last season, the CFP selection committee omitted Florida despite their perfect 13-0 season. This was hugely controversial. It is now highly unlikely, if not impossible, that another team with such a great record will be denied the chance to win the national championship.
