The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff is almost here, and the first projections for this new format have already been released. Beginning this season, twelve teams will compete for the national championship, making for an exciting postseason packed with matchups.
With so many games to consider, there are several factors to keep in mind — from game schedules and broadcasters to the stadiums hosting the action.
When is the 2024-25 College Football Playoff?
The 2024-25 College Football Playoff will take place from December 20, 2024, to January 20, 2025.
Full Schedule for the 2024-25 College Football Playoff
Although the specific teams competing in the playoff are not yet known, the dates and times for all 11 games have been finalized. Here’s the complete schedule:
- First Round:
- Dec. 20: 8 p.m. ET (N/A)
- Dec. 21: 12 p.m. ET (N/A)
- Dec. 21: 4 p.m. ET (N/A)
- Dec. 21: 8 p.m. ET (N/A)
- Quarterfinals:
- Dec. 31: 7:30 p.m. ET (Fiesta Bowl)
- Jan. 1: 1 p.m. ET (Peach Bowl)
- Jan. 1: 5 p.m. ET (Rose Bowl)
- Jan. 1: 8:45 p.m. ET (Sugar Bowl)
- Semifinals:
- Jan. 9: 7:30 p.m. ET (Orange Bowl)
- Jan. 10: 7:30 p.m. ET (Cotton Bowl Classic)
- Championship:
- Jan. 20: 7:30 p.m. ET (National Championship)
College Football Playoff Host Stadiums and Locations
The first round games will be played at the home stadiums of the higher-seeded teams, so those locations have not been confirmed yet. However, the stadiums for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and National Championship are already set:
- Fiesta Bowl: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
- Peach Bowl: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Rose Bowl: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
- Sugar Bowl: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Orange Bowl: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Cotton Bowl Classic: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- National Championship: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
TV Channels for the College Football Playoff
All 11 playoff games will be broadcast across ABC, ESPN, and TNT.
- TNT will broadcast two first-round games, while the other two will air on both ABC and ESPN.
- For the quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship, ESPN will handle the broadcasts.
2024-25 College Football Playoff Projections
The first CFP rankings projection was released recently, with Oregon taking the top spot, followed by Georgia, Miami (FL), and BYU claiming the top four seeds and securing first-round byes. Here's how the current projected first-round matchups look:
- No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 12 Boise State
- No. 6 Texas vs. No. 11 Alabama
- No. 7 Penn State vs. No. 10 Notre Dame
- No. 8 Tennessee vs. No. 9 Indiana
