The 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket for the 2024-2025 season has officially been released. On December 8, the final top 25 rankings were revealed, and the playoff matchups were announced. The quarterfinals for this year’s CFP are set to begin on December 31, 2024.
The College Football Playoff bracket is built from the final top 25 rankings of the season, which were unveiled on December 8. It’s essential to note that the top 25 rankings don’t always align directly with playoff seeds. The highest-ranked conference champions secure the top four spots and automatic byes, regardless of their overall rank. The fifth-highest-ranked conference champion is also included, though they do not receive a bye.
In this year’s bracket, Oregon claims the No. 1 seed, while Georgia, Boise State, and Arizona State each earn a bye into the next round.
2024 College Football Playoff Schedule
The College Football Playoff games are scheduled as follows:
Quarterfinals
- Tuesday, December 31
- No. 3 Boise State vs. No. 6 Penn State (Fiesta Bowl) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
- Wednesday, January 1
- No. 4 Arizona State vs. No. 5 Texas (Peach Bowl) | 1:00 p.m. | ESPN
- No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 8 Ohio State (Rose Bowl) | 5:00 p.m. | ESPN
- No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 7 Notre Dame (Sugar Bowl) | 8:45 p.m. | ESPN
Semifinals
- Thursday, January 9
- TBD vs. TBD (Orange Bowl) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
- Friday, January 10
- TBD vs. TBD (Cotton Bowl) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
National Championship
- Monday, January 20
- TBD vs. TBD (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
First Round Results
The first round of the College Football Playoff took place on December 20 and December 21, where the following teams emerged victorious:
- Friday, December 20
- No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 10 Indiana 17
- Saturday, December 21
- No. 6 Penn State 38, No. 11 SMU 10
- No. 5 Texas 38, No. 12 Clemson 24
- No. 8 Ohio State 42, No. 9 Tennessee 17
College Football Playoff Rankings and Seeds
The final CFP rankings for 2024 reflect the team’s overall performance throughout the season. While the rankings are significant, the seeding takes into account the four highest-ranked conference champions, who earn automatic byes. Here’s a breakdown of the teams in the CFP, including their ranking and seed:
- No. 1 Oregon – Highest-ranked conference champion (Big Ten)
- No. 2 Georgia – Second-highest-ranked conference champion (SEC)
- No. 3 Boise State – Third-highest-ranked conference champion (Mountain West)
- No. 4 Arizona State – Fourth-highest-ranked conference champion (Big 12)
- No. 5 Texas – At-large pick (SEC), seeded No. 5
- No. 6 Penn State – At-large pick (Big Ten), seeded No. 6
- No. 7 Notre Dame – At-large pick (Independent), seeded No. 7
- No. 8 Ohio State – At-large pick (Big Ten), seeded No. 8
- No. 9 Tennessee – At-large pick (SEC), seeded No. 9
- No. 10 Indiana – At-large pick (Big Ten), seeded No. 10
- No. 11 SMU – At-large pick (ACC), seeded No. 11
- No. 12 Clemson – Fifth-highest-ranked conference champion (ACC), seeded No. 12
The Teams with Byes
- No. 1 Oregon: As the highest-ranked conference champion, Oregon is the No. 1 seed and earned a bye into the quarterfinals.
- No. 2 Georgia: Similarly, Georgia earned the second seed and a bye, having finished as the second-highest-ranked conference champion.
- No. 3 Boise State: The Mountain West Conference champions secured the third seed, also earning a bye.
- No. 4 Arizona State: Although ranked No. 12 overall, Arizona State earned the fourth seed and the final first-round bye as the fourth-highest-ranked conference champion.
Quarterfinals and Bowl Locations
The four quarterfinal matchups will be played at prominent bowl locations, with games scheduled for December 31 and January 1. These games include:
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Boise State vs. No. 6 Penn State
- Peach Bowl: No. 4 Arizona State vs. No. 5 Texas
- Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 8 Ohio State
- Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 7 Notre Dame
These matchups will determine who advances to the semifinals, which will be held at either the Orange Bowl or Cotton Bowl on January 9 and 10, 2025. The winners of those games will face off on January 20, 2025, in the National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
No Re-Seeding After the Bracket Is Announced
It is important to note that once the final bracket is revealed, there is no re-seeding. Teams are placed based on their conference championship standings, and their respective matchups are determined accordingly.
Final Thoughts on the 2024-25 College Football Playoff
With the 12-team College Football Playoff set to kick off, the excitement is already building as teams prepare to battle it out for a spot in the National Championship. Fans can look forward to thrilling matchups, star players, and unforgettable moments as the road to the title begins this holiday season. The 2024-25 College Football Playoff promises to be one of the most competitive and exciting seasons yet.